LONG-TERM VS. RECENT-ONSET OBESITY: THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK IN ADOLESCENCE

BACKGROUND: The contribution of long-term vs. recent-onset obesity to cardiometabolic risk in adolescence remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of time of onset and length of obesity with the cardiometabolic profile of adolescence. METHODS: Prospective study in 678 16-year-olds. BMI was measured at birth-1-5-10-16y and BMI trajectories were interpolated using cubic splines. BMI >2 sd at <6y was defined as early obesity. Waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, lipid and glucose profiles were measured at 16y. A cardiometabolic risk score was computed (MetS_score). According to the BMI trajectory, four groups were defined: participants who were never obese (NOB), participants with obesity during adolescence (recent-onset obese, ROB), participants who were obese in early childhood but transitioned to normal/overweight as preadolescents (formerly obese, FOB), and participants who were obese in early childhood and remained obese (persistently obese, POB). RESULTS: ROBs and POBs had significantly unhealthier cardiometabolic profile than NOBs. No differences were observed in the cardiometabolic profile of ROBs compared to POBs. Although FOBs had higher WC and MetS_score than NOBs, no differences were found in other biomarkers. FOBs were in healthier cardiometabolic condition than ROBs and POBs. CONCLUSIONS: Both, long-term and recent-onset obesity increase the cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.