One in Six Elementary, Middle, and High School Students Are 'Obese'... Half at Risk of 'Metabolic Syndrome'

One in six elementary, middle, and high school students is obese, and 20% of obese students are in the prediabetic stage, according to a research finding.

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On the 9th, the National Health Insurance Service Health Insurance Research Institute's "Study on Strengthening Medical Services for the Prevention of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity" analyzed raw data from infant health checkups, student health checkup sample surveys, and out-of-school youth health checkup results. As a result, the obesity prevalence rate among children and adolescents in 2023 was 8.3% for infants and toddlers and 16.7% for students. This means one in 12 infants and toddlers and one in six elementary, middle, and high school students are obese. The prevalence rates of overweight or obesity were 17.7% for infants and toddlers and 27.3% for students.

The research team separately identified risk factors for pediatric and adolescent metabolic syndrome among obese students, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Metabolic syndrome refers to an individual having multiple conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance simultaneously. This analysis utilized blood test results conducted only on obese students during student health checkups. As of 2023, 16.4% of obese students were estimated to be in the prehypertension stage, and 6.5% were estimated to have hypertension. Among obese students, 20.2% were in the prediabetic stage, and 1.1% were suspected of having diabetes.

According to the diagnostic criteria for dyslipidemia, 33.3% of obese students had borderline total cholesterol levels, and 15.9% were at risk levels. Obese students at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease accounted for 39.1%. Half of the obese students, 50.5%, were suspected of having one or more metabolic syndrome risk factors.

Since complications from obesity can appear even during childhood and adolescence, appropriate management is necessary. However, in the case of pediatric and adolescent obesity, even when complications are present, it is reported that improving dietary habits and lifestyle should be prioritized over medication.

Meanwhile, on the 4th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health announced research results confirming a significant association between food addiction and emotional and behavioral problems in obese children and adolescents. First, the research team surveyed 224 overweight children and adolescents aged 8 to 16 with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile. Among the 224 obese children and adolescents, 44 (19.6%) were classified as high-risk for food addiction. Food addiction refers to compulsive consumption of specific foods that cannot be controlled and is related to the brain's reward system. Children in the high-risk food addiction group had higher degrees of obesity, lower self-esteem, and increased emotional problems such as depression and anxiety, as well as impulsive behaviors.

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