Overweight and obesity among Israeli adolescents and the risk for serious morbidity in early young adulthood: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Obesity in otherwise healthy adolescents was linked with increased risk of serious morbidity before age 25 years. Reducing adolescent obesity will have substantial short-term and long-term health benefits in young adults.
Study context
- Population
- Israeli conscripts aged 17–21 years with pre-recruitment medical evaluation 1996–2017, medically eligible and recruited to the Israeli Defense Forces 1998–2018; BMI as age- and sex-specific percentiles (US CDC categories)
- Participants
- 1,118,653 participants2,534,873 person-years
- Exposure
- Adolescent BMI categories vs normal BMI
- Outcome
- Incidence of serious morbidity disqualifying individuals from completing mandatory service
- Follow-up
- From enlistment until end of service (3 years for males, 2 years for females), onset of serious morbidity, or Dec 31, 2021
Methodological detailsnationwide
- Nationwide
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Serious morbidity, adjusted HR vs normal BMI
Each group vs normal BMIEstimate (95% CI)
UnderweightMales
aHR 0.89(0.83–0.95)
OverweightMales
aHR 1.21(1.16–1.27)
Obesity class 1Males
aHR 1.39(1.32–1.47)
Obesity class 2Males
aHR 2.82(2.60–3.06)
Obesity class 3Males
aHR 5.14(4.37–6.04)
UnderweightFemales
HR 0.95(0.84–1.09)
OverweightFemales
HR 1.27(1.17–1.37)
Obesity class 1Females
HR 1.63(1.45–1.82)
Obesity class 2Females
HR 4.00(3.46–4.61)
Obesity class 3Females
HR 7.30(5.65–9.43)
- Cases of serious morbidity
- 23 347
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sensitivity analyses (unimpaired health at baseline; civilian-equivalent office employments)
- Results persisted
Original publication
Overweight and obesity among Israeli adolescents and the risk for serious morbidity in early young adulthood: a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Published 15 November 2024. doi:10.
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