Metabolic, immunological and life style factors associated with different phenotypes of obesity and their correlation with weight changes in children in Latvia
Aim
Description
Childhood obesity has reached pandemic proportions and is rightly considered one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity not only reduces quality of life and life expectancy but also significantly increases the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in childhood and adulthood, as well as affecting the immune system of children, leading to an increased risk of infections, autoimmune, and oncological diseases.
This project will be the first in Latvia to study the prevalence of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity phenotypes in children. The socio-demographic, anthropometric, cardiovascular health data, and glucose metabolism parameters of children with different obesity phenotypes will be determined. The project will investigate the immunometabolic inflammatory process of dysfunctional adipose tissue in children in interaction with lifestyle and other possible risk factors for different obesity phenotypes. After 6 months, the impact of standard educational interventions on weight changes will be evaluated, as well as repeated studies of immunological and metabolic processes and other risk factors.
The study will include 160 children with obesity aged 10 to 18 years. The results obtained will provide an understanding of the causes of childhood obesity and preventable risk factors in the Latvian child population. The results of the project will increase the scientific data capacity on childhood obesity issues, serve as a basis for further research and international scientific cooperation. The results of the project will strengthen professionals' understanding of childhood obesity as a complex health problem and adipose tissue as an endocrine and metabolically active system.
Public understanding of obesity and its long-term impact on children's health will be promoted. Informative seminars for professionals and special educational events for the public will be organized to disseminate the project results. A clinical algorithm and clinical pathway will be developed to ensure unified care, monitoring, and treatment at all levels of healthcare for children with obesity.
Lead Researchers
Scientific Team Members
- Anna Gūtmane
- Amanda Marija Jundase
- Aļona Lavrenova
- Diāna Rubene
- Zane Zunde
