Weight of Children Isn't Necessarily Indicative of Physical Health

It's never a good sign when a child is overweight or obese, but a new study shows that weight isn't a deciding factor of physical health, nor does it indicate an imminent risk of type-2 diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Alberta in conjunction with Alberta health services have conducted a study of 181 children with obesity. They found that one-third of the participants could be classified as "metabolically healthy," which is characterized by cholesterol level, risk of type-2 diabetes, blood pressure level, and high fasting blood sugar.

The one-third of the obese children who were considered metabolically healthy did not show a risk of developing any adverse effects of the previously listed conditions. The researchers noted that diet and physical activity play a big role in one's physical health, despite how heavy they might be at a young age.

"It's not all about fat, even for kids who meet the definition of obesity," explained Geoff Ball, senior author of the study, and a Ph.D. in nutrition and metabolism. "Lifestyle behaviours-how physically active they are and what they eat-those things have an effect on their health, independent of fatness."

Insulin resistance as well as fat and glucose levels in the blood were important factors to consider for those involved in the study. The researchers believe that obesity is a bit more complex than it may seem, because its severity is typically measured through Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements, which solely focus on an individual's height and weight. Those two factors are obviously ones to consider, but they don't reveal the most telling information.

 The Advisory Board Company, a global research, technology, and consulting firm for health care, reported back in August that approximately 35% of obese individuals are metabolically healthy, based on a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Geoff Ball and his researchers are working on recruiting 1,600 children for a more comprehensive study on obesity, which could provide more answers for an already significant topic to help doctors evaluate their patients more closely.