LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Obesity in U.S. adolescents has reached alarming levels, with approximately 21 percent of those aged 12 to 18 affected, according to a study released on Monday.
This condition impacts current health and significantly increases the likelihood of adult obesity and associated diseases, said the report published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).
The study defines adolescent obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex. It underscores the growing prevalence of severe obesity, which affects 7.6 percent of U.S. adolescents and is characterized by a BMI of 120 percent of the 95th percentile or greater.
Key factors contributing to this epidemic include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences. Heritability estimates suggest genetics account for 40 percent to 70 percent of obesity risk, the study finds.
Lifestyle behaviors such as excessive screen time and poor sleep also play critical roles. For instance, adolescents who spend over two hours a day on recreational screen activities have a 67 percent higher risk of being overweight or obese.
The report highlights the complex pathophysiology of obesity, which involves an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure influenced by hormones that regulate hunger and satiety.
Adolescent obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep disorders, and depression.
Alarmingly, obesity during adolescence is linked to higher adult mortality from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the report.
Treatment strategies vary, but lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone. Effective interventions include dietary changes, increased physical activity, and behavioral counseling, according to the study. ■