Author information
1Research Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21-00128 Roma, Italy.
2Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS L.go S.Onofrio, 4-00165 Roma, Italy.
3Operative Research Unit of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200-00128 Roma, Italy.
4Operative Research Unit of Nutrition and Prevention, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200-00128 Roma, Italy.
Abstract
Childhood obesity is a global public health problem. Worldwide, 41 million children under 5 years and 340 million children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years are overweight. In addition, the recent COVID-19 epidemic has further amplified this social phenomenon. Obesity is a condition associated with various comorbidities, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The pathophysiology of NAFLD in obesity is intricate and involves the interaction and dysregulation of several mechanisms, such as insulin resistance, cytokine signaling, and alteration of the gut microbiota. NAFLD is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis in more than 5% of hepatocytes, evaluated by histological analysis. It can evolve from hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and end-stage liver failure. Body weight reduction through lifestyle modification remains the first-line intervention for the management of pediatric NAFLD. Indeed, studies suggest that diets low in fat and sugar and conversely rich in dietary fibers promote the improvement of metabolic parameters. This review aims to evaluate the existing relationship between obesity and NAFLD in the pediatric population and to assess the dietary patterns and nutritional supplementations that can be recommended to prevent and manage obesity and its comorbidities.