Early- or adult-onset obesity has a similar cardiometabolic profile and weight loss response to clinical treatment in adulthood

Abstract

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the period of obesity onset in the life cycle of obese adults with their cardiometabolic profile and response to clinical treatment.

Methods

A cross-sectional study carried out in 124 individuals, ≥18 years old, who received clinical treatment for obesity based on the same protocol of care and were stratified according to the period of obesity onset in childhood/adolescence (early) or adulthood (adult). Cardiometabolic profiles (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes) and weight loss during clinical treatment (mean follow-up of 2 years) were compared among the groups. A ≥10% weight loss of the baseline weight was considered a successful response to clinical treatment.

Results

Early-onset obesity group (n = 40) was younger at the beginning of follow-up [35.8(10.3) vs. 47.9(10.5) years, p < 0.001] and presented a higher frequency of BMI≥40kg/m² [29(72.5) vs. 42(50.0) %, p = 0.018)] than the adult-onset obesity group (n = 84). Duration of obesity and of follow-up was similar in both groups as well as mean weight loss during the treatment and frequencies of hypertension, diabetes, pre-diabetes or dyslipidemia.

Conclusions

Weight loss response to clinical treatment of obesity as well as prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors were similar in early- and adult-onset obesity.