A new study by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) has found that childhood obesity is driving an alarming rise in chronic health conditions previously only seen in adults.
The study, published in the journal Obesity Pillars, is the first in South Africa to comprehensively assess obesity-related comorbidities in children under the age of 12.
It analysed health records of 430 children treated for obesity between 2012 and 2022. The average age of the children was just over seven years, and more than a quarter (27.9%) were under the age of five.
Professor Nasheeta Peer, a researcher at the SAMRC’s Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit and one of the study authors, described the findings as deeply troubling.
“Seeing such a high burden of chronic diseases in children, some as young as five, is a red flag. These are conditions we typically expect in middle-aged adults, yet they’re already taking root in childhood due to obesity,” said Peer.
The study revealed that 46.1% of the children had hypertension, while a further 12.8% were pre-hypertensive. In addition, 30.2% had dyslipidaemia, or abnormal cholesterol or fat levels in the blood, and about 5% had either prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. These conditions, researchers warn, significantly raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases and kidney problems later in life.
Peer stressed the urgent need to intervene early. “The data show a clear link between lifestyle and these health conditions. We must intervene early if we want to reverse the trend,” she said.
The study found that many of the children reported behaviours that contribute to weight gain and cardiometabolic issues. Nearly half (47.9%) consumed sugary soft drinks daily, 43.5% spent more than two hours a day on screens, and 42.3% engaged in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day.
Researchers also noted a strong family history of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, suggesting a combination of genetic predisposition and shared unhealthy environments.
Despite the concerning statistics, the study offers a roadmap for action. It calls for immediate interventions focused on prevention, including promoting healthy diets, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time among children. It also recommends routine screening to detect obesity-related conditions early.
“The earlier we act, the better the outcomes,” said Peer. “Children with high glucose or high blood pressure levels still have a chance to reverse these conditions. But without action, we’re looking at a generation facing high rates of heart disease and diabetes by the time they reach adulthood.”
The authors also called for broader multi-sectoral efforts to tackle the root causes of obesity, including the easy availability of unhealthy foods, inadequate recreational spaces, and poor access to healthcare.
THE MERCURY
