OBESITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
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Abstract
The prevalence of obesity in the child population has been increasing in recent decades, mainly in primary school age. At the same time, the tendency of excessive fat deposition often becomes noticeable at an early age. This indicates the continuing relevance of the problem and the need to find effective early interventions for the prevention of this condition.
The aim of the research – to assess the state of the scientific problem of overweight and obesity in young children and identify trends in its further development.
Materials and methods. The study reviewed data from the PubMed and E-library databases on the topic under review. The search depth was 2000-2025.
Results. The review summarizes current data on the prevalence, etiopathogenesis, risk factors and diagnosis of obesity in early childhood. It shows a global trend towards the «rejuvenation» of obesity. The review also highlights the key role of the «1000 days» period (from conception to 2 years of age) in metabolic programming. It describes modifiable factors, including ante- and perinatal factors, feeding patterns, parental and family influences, and the role of eating behavior. In addition, the article highlights the contradictions in Russian regulatory documents that make early diagnosis of the disease difficult and emphasizes the need for unified approaches.
Conclusion. Causally significant risk factors for the development of overweight and, further, obesity in children have been identified, which lay the foundation for metabolic restructuring at the earliest stages. Most of them are completely modifiable. Thus, with the active involvement of parents and a pediatrician, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of developing exogenous-constitutional obesity in a child, even in the presence of a hereditary predisposition.
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The authors declare that they have no apparent or potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.
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