Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Background: Obesity is a complex disease, which is intertwined with biological, developmental, environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors. Aim of the study: Identification of risk factors for obesity, evaluate the associated co morbidities, and study the effects of lifestyle modification on body mass index and glycosylated hemoglobin in obesity in children and adolescence.
Method: A prospective non-randomized research at the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital-Medical City/Baghdad included overweight and obese children aged six to fifteen who attended the Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic from January to July 2022. Personal lifestyle data included daily exercise, screen time, sleep pattern, and nutrition. Physical, laboratory, abdominal ultrasonography, and bone age assessments were done. Diet, exercise, sleep, and screen time advice for patients and families. Body mass index and glycosylated haemoglobin were measured six months after lifestyle modification. 
Results: The research included 74 kids. The most prevalent age was 6-10. 39(52.7%), more girls were born. 39 (52.7%) 64 (86.5%) babies were normal weight. A family record. 15 (20.27%) had obesity/diabetes mellitus, 16 (21.6%) had both, and 42 (56.8%) had no family history of obesity. One study indicated that 85.1% of children had less than 30 minutes of daily physical exercise, 48.6% slept less than 9 hours, 75.7% had over 2 hours of screen usage, and 97.3% had bad diets. Additionally, 40.5% of children had elevated HbA1C. BMI and HbA1C dropped considerably after 6 months (P=0.000).
Conclusion: Obesity is linked to poor diet, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, and screen time. Hypertension, NAFLD, and dyslipidemia are the primary obese co-morbidities. A family history of obesity increases the chance of childhood obesity. Reducing BMI and glycosylated haemoglobin by changing family and child lifestyles works.