Epigenetic factors of obesity in an adolescent population
Keywords:
adolescents; childhood; epigenetics; obesity; overweight; pediatrics; risk factorsAbstract
Introduction: Obesity is the leading risk factor and most important cause of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Objective: To determine the association between epigenetic factors and obesity in adolescents.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted, analyzing 180 adolescents divided into two groups (60 cases and 120 controls). The variables studied were: age, sex, exclusive breastfeeding, low birth weight, prematurity, family history, excessive weight gain during infancy, low maternal weight during pregnancy, hypertension during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and consumption of prenatal and folic acid supplements during pregnancy. Statistical analysis included absolute and relative frequencies, the Phi coefficient, odds ratio, p-value, and 95% confidence interval.
Results: It was found that 63.3% of adolescents with obesity were exposed to at least one adverse epigenetic factor during the prenatal or perinatal period. The most prominent factors were prematurity (OR= 6.55; rϕ= 0.28; p= 0.002) and lack of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age (OR= 3.24; rϕ= 0.19; p= 0.014). 47.5% of adolescents with obesity had at least one family history of cardiometabolic disease, with obesity being the most prevalent (81.7%), which was the factor with the strongest correlation (rϕ= 0.37; p= 0.001).
Conclusions: Epigenetic factors, both prenatal, natal, and postnatal, show a strong correlation with the development of obesity in adolescents.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amaya Blanco del Frade, Jenrry Alvarez Cruz, Georgina María Zayas Torriente, Magaly Marrero García, Mara Carassou Gutiérrez, Olga Lidia Besse Millan, Yanaisy Leal Molina
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