Scientists have found lipid biomarkers in kids and teens with obesity that suggest a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, liver issues, and heart disease as they grow older. A year-long lifestyle change program reduced the levels of these biomolecules, highlighting the significance of early action for obese children. The findings are available in the journal Nature Medicine.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified lipid biomarkers in young individuals struggling with obesity, indicating an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and heart conditions in adulthood. After participating in a one-year lifestyle change initiative, the lipid biomarker levels decreased, underscoring the critical role of early intervention in managing obesity in children. This research is featured in the journal Nature Medicine.
The global rise in obesity among children and teenagers is alarming, with over 250 million projected to be affected by 2030. This situation poses a significant public health challenge, as these young individuals face increased risks of developing insulin resistance, fatty liver, and hypertension, which can escalate into cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and liver problems as adults.
Research indicates that these health issues may stem from alterations in the body’s lipids—various fats and oils, including triglycerides and cholesterol, essential for energy storage and cellular signaling. However, the precise ways in which lipid composition changes in obese children and how this contributes to early cardiometabolic issues remain unclear.
Recent findings from the University of Copenhagen reveal that lipid components associated with heart and metabolic diseases in adults correlate closely with risk factors in obese children and teens. These results may lead to the development of tests that can act as early indicators of cardiometabolic diseases.
“Our research indicates that lipid changes linked to cardiometabolic risk become evident early in life for children with obesity, especially affecting liver function and glucose processing. These lipid biomarkers could be further investigated for their potential to diagnose or predict cardiometabolic risks in high-risk children, paving the way for early detection and intervention,” explains Postdoc Yun Huang from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, a co-first author of the study in Nature Medicine.
Early action can reverse risks of cardiometabolic diseases
The researchers based their findings on the HOLBAEK Study biobank, which includes data from over 4,000 children, both with and without obesity, from the Children’s Obesity Clinic at Holbaek Hospital. In collaboration with experts at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, they employed advanced mass spectrometry techniques to examine hundreds of unique lipid species, each with specific roles and structures, providing comprehensive insights into lipid metabolism. By comparing the lipid profiles of 958 children with overweight or obesity to 373 children with normal weight, they gained a better understanding of how obesity alters lipid profiles and their correlation to cardiometabolic risks, including the detection of excess liver fat.
To evaluate how lipid profiles would react to lifestyle changes, 186 participants who engaged in a year-long obesity management program at the Children’s Obesity Clinic were assessed before and after the intervention. The clinic utilizes the accredited Holbaek Obesity Treatment method, offering a spectrum of lifestyle recommendations. Remarkably, 83% of participants experienced weight reduction, and the scientists noted a significant decrease in harmful lipid levels alongside weight loss. These alterations in lipid species help clarify the relationship between weight loss and enhancements in cardiometabolic factors.
“This study emphasizes the urgent need to confront childhood obesity more seriously, as it heightens the risk of numerous diseases that can diminish quality of life. Fortunately, our results demonstrate that early intervention can reverse these risks, giving children and teens a chance for healthier, disease-free adulthood,” states Professor Torben Hansen from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, a co-senior author of the study.