Childhood obesity: energy drinks and ultra-formulated foods drive overweight

Childhood obesity is not just a question of weight, but a complex condition involving metabolism, cardiovascular system, liver and psychophysical balance of children, representing a constantly worsening public health problem. According to the Aletheia Foundation that, on the occasion of World Health Day, presented at the Bambino Gesù the focus 'Health is cultivated from a young age - correct nutrition and healthy lifestyles for tomorrow's health', 21% of children between 5 and 14 years of age are overweight, a total of 288 million people worldwide. The proportion of obesity has more than doubled since 2000, from 4% to 10% in children between 5 and 9 years old and from 3% to 9% between 10 and 14 years old. Even among the youngest children (0-4 years), cases remain high, with about 35 million children affected.

In Europe, the Foundation's estimates based on data from the WHO's Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (2022-2024) indicate that out of approximately 470,000 children between the ages of 7 and 9 in 37 countries, 25% are overweight or obese. In Italia, Aletheia has estimated, based on 'OKkio alla Salute' data (national surveillance system on overweight and obesity and related risk factors in primary school children) that 19% of children are overweight and 9.8% obese, with a further 2.6% suffering from severe obesity. The phenomenon is more prevalent among boys, in southern regions and in more disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

According to Aletheia there is a direct and documented link between poor nutrition and children's health. Habitual consumption of ultra-formulated foods is associated with increases in body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass; higher fasting blood glucose values; lower levels of HDL ('good') cholesterol; possible alterations in the immune system and microbiome, with increased risk of allergies and asthma.Hyper-sugary drinks are also a critical factor: their consumption is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis and other metabolic alterations. Data also show that about 25 per cent of adolescents with obesity have pre-diabetes. These factors are compounded by sedentariness and excessive screen use: less sedentary children show less visceral adiposity and better cardiometabolic parameters.

The focus also draws attention to the consumption of energy drinks, which is becoming increasingly popular among minors and whose negative effects include sleep disorders, tachycardia, anxiety, cognitive and school problems, and even cardiovascular and neuropsychological symptoms (in 45% and 33% of the cases analysed in the literature, respectively). All this considering that these drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and added sugar.

Among the most relevant consequences of a poor diet and consequent overweight is hepatic steatosis, i.e. the accumulation of fat in the liver, associated with metabolic dysfunction, today the most common chronic liver disease in children in Western countries: it affects 7-10% of the paediatric population; it reaches a prevalence of 30-40% in children with obesity. The disease, often asymptomatic, can evolve into steatohepatitis, fibrosis and, in the most severe cases, cirrhosis already at a young age. It is also closely linked to a broader cardiometabolic risk.