Increase in Pediatric and Adolescent Abdominal Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A study has found that the incidence of abdominal obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among children and adolescents increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Song Kyung-chul, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents, Yongin Severance Hospital (left), Professor Chae Hyun-wook, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents, Gangnam Severance Hospital.

On the 14th, a research team led by Professor Song Kyung-chul from the Department of Pediatrics at Yonsei University Yongin Severance Hospital and Professor Chae Hyun-wook from the Department of Pediatrics at Gangnam Severance Hospital announced the results of a study investigating the prevalence of abdominal obesity and NAFLD among children and adolescents in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although there have been reports of increased obesity and related chronic diseases among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, studies clarifying prevalence trends among children and adolescents have been insufficient. Accordingly, the research team conducted a study on a total of 1,428 children and adolescents, excluding those with diabetes and hepatitis B and C infections, based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey '2018?2020 National Health Statistics.'

As a result, compared to 2018?2019, the waist circumference of children and adolescents in South Korea increased from 71.0 cm to 72.9 cm in 2020. When grouped by body mass index into normal weight, overweight, and obese categories, the prevalence of abdominal obesity in the obese group rose from 75.6% to 92.7%, and the prevalence of NAFLD increased from 45.8% to 62.5%. The proportion of obese children and adolescents with both abdominal obesity and NAFLD increased from 40.7% to 57.8%. Regionally, while prevalence changes were not significant in metropolitan areas, in non-metropolitan regions, the prevalence of NAFLD increased from 15.2% to 24.9%, and cases with both abdominal obesity and NAFLD rose from 7.0% to 15.7%.

From 2018 to 2020, the prevalence of abdominal obesity (A) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (B) among domestic children and adolescents was examined. Compared to those with normal weight or overweight, a clear increasing trend in prevalence was observed in obese children and adolescents. [Data provided by Yongin Severance Hospital]

The research team had previously confirmed an increase in obesity and related chronic disease prevalence among children and adolescents in South Korea. This study showed that the worsening trend in prevalence has continued even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The causes are attributed to lifestyle changes such as social distancing, reduced physical activity, and altered eating habits. The team explained that the more pronounced increase in NAFLD prevalence in the obese group compared to the normal weight group may be a result of increased abdominal obesity. Furthermore, the notable rise in prevalence in non-metropolitan areas may be due to relatively poorer regional healthcare environments, and they speculated that increased time spent at home and with family during remote work might have had a positive effect on child-rearing and health management in metropolitan households.

Professor Song Kyung-chul emphasized, "Although social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic are ending, the impact of COVID-19 on obesity and endocrine metabolic diseases will continue to manifest. It is a crucial time for continuous attention and research on obesity and related chronic diseases in children and adolescents, as well as active monitoring and management policies to support these efforts."

This study was recently published in the comprehensive academic journal of Yonsei University College of Medicine, the Yonsei Medical Journal (YMJ).

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