The role of dietary fiber in childhood obesity Dietary fibers and childhood obesity: a literature review
MARINA LEGKOU1, VENETIA NOTARA1,2*, DEMOSTHENES B. PANAGIOTAKOS1
*Corresponding author
1. School of Public Science and Education, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens Greece
2. School of Public Health, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Athens Greece
Abstract
Childhood obesity has been characterized as a standout amongst the most major issues of global public health. Obesity has risen alarmingly and from early stages of life is a major risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic disorders at later life. Dietary fiber is a significant dietary component which plays a key role in health; however, the role of dietary fiber on obesity has not been well understood and appreciated. The aim of this review paper was to examine the effects of dietary fibers on obesity among children. The present review concluded that dietary fibers are beneficial in weight management, however further studies are needed to explain the advantages of high fiber diets since the existing data are scare.
INTRODUCTION
Obesity, as it is defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition described as an excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, which can increase the risk of morbidity to such an extent causing adverse health implications (1).
The outburst of the epidemic onset of obesity in children motivated researchers to examine the prevalence of excessive body weight at international and national level. Moreover, obesity, from early stages of life is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and development of cardiometabolic disorders at later life. Globally, the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased from 4.2% to 6.7% in 2010 and it is expected to have a more dramatic raise approximately 9.1%, by 2020 (2). Several studies documented a rapid development of obesity for both boys and girls. Recent data from the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (2015-2017), show that childhood overweight rates in the EU ranged from 18% to 52% in boys and 13% to 43% in girls. Respective obesity rates ranged from 6% to 28% in boys and 4% to 20% in girls (highest in Southern Europe Greece, C ...
