Key result
Class 3 obesity in Arab adolescents is linked to ~26-fold higher hypertension odds versus normal weight.
Why the study?
Previous studies evaluating the association between adolescent obesity and comorbid conditions in Israel were conducted predominantly in the Israeli Jewish population.
Does adolescent obesity increase the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and polycystic ovaries, and do these associations differ between Arab and Jewish populations?
Cross-Sectional (n=603,552)
Does adolescent obesity increase the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and polycystic ovaries, and do these associations differ between Arab and Jewish populations?
Odds Ratio: 26 (95% CI 21.62–31.1)
Severe adolescent obesity is strongly associated with major cardiometabolic comorbidities, with distinct ethnic differences in risk magnitude between Arab and Jewish populations.
Supports enhanced cardiometabolic screening in severely obese Arab adolescents; leaves open causality pending longitudinal data.
Background: Previous studies on the association of adolescent obesity with comorbid diseases in Israel were conducted predominantly in the Israeli Jewish population. Goal: To compare associations of adolescent obesity with Hypertension (HTN), Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2), and Polycystic ovaries (PCO), singly or in combination, between Arabs and Jews in Israel. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 313,936 Arab adolescents aged 14-19 years between the years 2007-2022, and 289,616 adolescents in a matched Jewish comparison group. Results: The crude prevalence of comorbidities increased consistently from the 'underweight' to the 'class 3 obesity' category (from 0.24 to 6.41%, from 0.32 to 4.59%, and from 0.49 to 5.35% for HTN, DM2 and PCO, respectively). Compared to the reference 'normal weight' category, an incremental increase of aOR was observed by increasing weight category. The aORs for the 'class 3 obesity' category (95% CIs) were 26.00 (21.62-31.10), 10.82 (8.83-13.14), and 6.06 (95% CI 4.57-7.87) for HTN, DM2, and PCO, respectively. In the Jewish comparison group, lower aORs for HTN and DM2 were observed in the 'class 3 obesity' category. The increase in aORs with the increase in weight categories was more striking in cases of multiple comorbidities. Conclusion: The finding of a strong association of obesity severity with major cardiometabolic consequences in adolescence, as well as the unique ethnic features of these associations, can help focus national health initiatives on vulnerable adolescent groups.
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Treister‐Goltzman et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Adolescent obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities (n=603,552). Class 3 obesity vs. Normal weight was evaluated on Hypertension (HTN) (aOR 26.00, 95% CI 21.62-31.10). Class 3 obesity in Arab adolescents was strongly associated with increased odds of hypertension (aOR 26.00), type 2 diabetes (aOR 10.82), and polycystic ovaries (aOR 6.06) compared to normal weight.
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