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The Scientist
Childhood Obesity Impacts Bone Health, Too
Recent findings suggest that obesity during the teenage years can put individuals at higher risk for osteoporosis later on in life
For years, scientists thought that childhood obesity was osteoprotective by stimulating bone growth and slowing down bone loss and damage. The current research suggests otherwise.
Preliminary evidence presented at the 2025 Endocrine Society conference suggests that childhood obesity will have long-lasting effects on bone health during adulthood. Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine followed 48 teenagers in three groups: normal weight, overweight with normal sugar levels, and overweight with impaired sugar levels. In the last group, four had prediabetes, and 16 had full-blown diabetes.
Using high-resolution imaging, they examined the structure and strength of the tibia and forearm and observed that bone strength and quality improved the least in the teens with obesity and diabetes.
While the exact mechanism driving the decline in bone health is unclear, the scientists believe their study of Texas teens is applicable globally.
