Childhood and Adolescent Obesity – A Growing Concern

21.05.2025

Author

Leading Medicine Guide Editors

The Impact of Location and Education on Obesity

A research team led by Jessica Kerr from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne recently published a study predicting that by 2050, around one-third of children and adolescents worldwide will be overweight or obese. In Germany, an estimated 20 to 23 percent of young residents could be affected.

However, this projection assumes that current trends continue unchecked. Potential countermeasures such as new fat-reduction injections or medications are not factored in. Even so, this is a highly alarming analysis!

According to data collected by statista.com, between 2008 and 2023, obesity diagnoses among children aged 6 to 10 in Germany rose by approximately 23.6 percent. There are significant regional differences across the federal states, and even within larger states, varying trends are observed.

A closer look at living conditions in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern—where, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, nearly 50 percent of the population is considered overweight, including many young people—highlights representative causes for obesity among children and adolescents.

Causes of Rising Childhood Obesity Rates

Professor Ralf Schiel from the Medigreif Inselklinik in Heringsdorf sees widespread childhood obesity in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as a multifactorial issue.

Key contributing factors include:

Place of residence: Rural areas are particularly affected due to long distances and poorly developed infrastructure.
Level of education: Families with lower educational attainment are more prone to obesity.
Low income: Less physical activity, higher stress levels, reduced social participation; in addition, healthy, fresh foods and whole grains are often more expensive than processed and refined flour products.
High media consumption: Leads to a sedentary lifestyle.
Lack of nearby obesity centers: Limited access to early intervention and information resources.
Outdated beliefs: The idea that plates must always be full.

These contributing factors can be applied to many other regions in Germany, illustrating how location, education, and income significantly shape the lifestyle choices of children and adolescents.

The Opposite Trend in China

In contrast, an opposite phenomenon is observed internationally—for example, in China: the number of obese male adolescents over the age of 14 is increasing rapidly in urban areas, as obesity is often seen as a symbol of family wealth. In rural regions, people generally lack the means to overindulge in food or to afford expensive fast-food chains serving calorie-dense Western meals. Wealthier city dwellers, however, do not face these limitations.

Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Germany has many specialized centers offering targeted therapies for children with obesity. These programs typically focus on three core components:

Nutritional education and practical implementation
Promoting enjoyment of exercise and sports
Individual psychological support

Social workers also educate children on the appropriate use of media. Excessive screen time encourages physical inactivity and contributes to poor eating habits. During prolonged media consumption, food is often eaten mindlessly, and calorie-dense snacks like chips, soda, and other processed foods are consumed in large quantities.

A crucial factor in the long-term success of childhood obesity treatment is the involvement of parents and the broader environment. Only when everyone works together can these treatments help protect children from the severe health consequences of obesity.

You can find more information about childhood obesity, as well as selected specialists and treatment centers, in the Leading Medicine Guide.

Adults affected by obesity can also find valuable information here, including contacts for clinics offering bariatric treatments such as gastric bypass, gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Frequent fast food consumption can lead to obesity in children.

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