Childhood obesity may haunt individuals long after they've lost weight

Childhood obesity may continue to haunt individuals long after they've lost weight, a new study suggests. 

Childhood obesity is considered an epidemic, as rates have almost tripled in the last three decades. The researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center questioned how this rampant health issue could affect a child's future health and impact public health in general.

"There were two things going on here. First, the earlier you are exposed to obesity, the earlier we may see the onset of complications including type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and cancer," said lead author to the study Dr. Kristen Nadeau of the CU Cancer Center in a statement.

"But then it looks like independent of this increased-exposure effect, kids' maturing bodies may be especially vulnerable to the detrimental health effects of obesity. Early exposure can make you much more predisposed to complications than might exposure once the body is done maturing. It may be that childhood obesity changes the way the whole metabolism is working - and changes it during a critical developmental time frame," she continued.

Prior studies have shown the chain of events that happens when childhood obesity leads to an obese adult life, which then leads to health complications. But childhood obesity in itself could also be causing these adverse health effects down the road - health issues like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and its associated cardiovascular, retinal and renal complications, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, asthma, orthopedic complications, psychiatric disease and increased rates of cancer.

Naudeau admits there is a lack of longitudinal data in the report because childhood obesity is relatively new on the radar, and everything is just speculation at this point. There is also the reality that obesity is not just a quick fix.

From here Naudeau and her team say the best course of action is to treat children currently suffering from obesity and to apply early prevention methods.