Obesity During Adolescence Increases the Risk of Severe Infections in Adulthood

Adolescent obesity is rapidly turning into a worldwide health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 160 million children and teenagers ages 5 to 19 are now overweight or obese A new study from the University of Gothenburg collected data from nearly one million Swedish men and found that obese teenagers are more likely to experience severe infections later in life Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterized by excess body fat that impairs health and leads to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, and metabolic issues that tend to worsen over time Body mass index (BMI) has traditionally been the standard for assessing weight and health, but it has come under scrutiny because it frequently misclassifies risk You can tackle obesity at its root by eliminating metabolic health hazards like seed oils and ultraprocessed foods and instead, choosing healthy carbs and walking more