Innovative strategies in childhood obesity treatment: Highlights from the latest research

This study examined the impact of an 8-hour TRE window on energy intake and dietary quality in adolescents with obesity. Participants in the TRE group experienced modest reductions in energy intake, carbohydrates, added sugar, and fat, alongside a slight improvement in diet quality.

While the findings suggest potential benefits, the differences between TRE and control groups were not statistically significant, indicating the need for larger studies to validate TRE's efficacy in this demographic.

A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of bariatric surgeries for children and adolescents highlighted significant benefits, including improved health-related quality of life, reductions in cardiometabolic risk factors, and substantial decreases in BMI z-scores.

Adverse events were rare and typically mild, suggesting that surgical options may be a safe and effective choice for managing severe paediatric obesity, though long-term studies are needed to confirm durability.

A 16-week pilot study explored the use of liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in adolescents with obesity following sleeve gastrectomy. The treatment led to a 4.3% reduction in BMI and improvements in fasting glucose and haemoglobin A1C levels without serious adverse events.

However, the study noted that adolescents with a poor initial response to surgery were less likely to benefit from liraglutide, suggesting the need for personalised approaches.

An expert roundtable addressed the challenges in designing clinical trials for anti-obesity medications in children. Key recommendations included moving away from BMI z-scores as a primary outcome, incorporating body fat measures, and minimising placebo use where ethical concerns arise.

The panel emphasised the importance of extended follow-up for evaluating long-term treatment outcomes and safety.

This randomised trial compared the effects of an Indo-Mediterranean diet (IMD) to a calorie-restricted diet (CRD) in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). While both diets improved key health markers, IMD demonstrated superior results, with greater reductions in hepatic steatosis, BMI, and insulin resistance.

These findings suggest that IMD may be a more effective dietary intervention for managing NAFLD in children.

A systematic review of pharmacotherapy for childhood obesity evaluated metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and orlistat. Metformin showed moderate improvements in insulin resistance and triglycerides but limited effects on BMI z-scores.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, exhibited promising benefits for BMI and cardiometabolic outcomes, although mild gastrointestinal side effects were common. The study underscores the need for further research into the long-term safety and effectiveness of these treatments.