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What causes obesity in children?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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In the vast majority of children, obesity is not associated with hereditary or endocrine diseases, although the role of hereditary predisposition to obesity is considered established. Genetically determined metabolic features and the structure of adipose tissue play a leading role in the formation of a positive energy balance:
- increased number of adipocytes and their accelerated differentiation from fibroblasts;
- congenital increased activity of lipogenesis enzymes and decreased activity of lipolysis;
- increasing the intensity of fat formation from glucose;
- decreased formation of leptin in adipocytes or a defect in its receptors.
The following factors lead to an increase in a child's body weight:
- overnutrition of the mother during pregnancy;
- artificial feeding of a child in the first year of life;
- increased consumption of high-calorie industrially produced foods;
- rare meals, mainly in the afternoon;
- a developed habit of overeating.
Chronic stress (family conflicts, difficult parent-child relationships, difficulties in school) is almost always compensated by changes in the child's eating behavior in the form of increased appetite, more frequent meals, and larger amounts of food consumed. The role of eating habits in the development of obesity in preschool and school-age children has been established.
The following factors lead to a decrease in physical activity:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- prolonged viewing of television programs;
- passion for computers;
- widespread use of motor vehicles with restrictions on pedestrian walking.