Adolescent Obesity: Biochemical and Dietary Disparities in US Youth

Summary:

This 4:26-minute Nutrition Research Review video summarizes the publication titled "Adolescent Obesity: Biochemical and Dietary Disparities in US Youth." Read the published article. 

Key Takeaways:

• Public health efforts and early interventions are needed to address adolescent obesity: the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adolescents aged 12–18 years remained consistently high across three NHANES cycles: ~20–21%.
• Poor diet quality is a widespread problem among U.S. adolescents, regardless of their weight status: over 50% of adolescents failed to meet EAR or AI for many nutrients critical for growth and development.
• Adolescents with obesity may require additional nutritional monitoring and individualized care: those with obesity faced disproportionately higher rates of micronutrient deficiencies and biochemical markers of poor nutritional status and inflammation.

Related Questions & Answers

• How prevalent is obesity among U.S. adolescents, and has this changed over time?
  Across the three NHANES cycles examined (2013–2014, 2015–2016, and 2017–2018), the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adolescents aged 12–18 years remained consistently high, ranging from approximately 20% to 21%. The overall trend reflects a persistently elevated burden rather than a substantial rise, underscoring the ongoing public health challenge of adolescent obesity.
• Do adolescents with obesity consume more calories or have different macronutrient distributions than their peers without obesity?
  Despite their higher body weight and theoretically higher nutrient needs, adolescents with obesity did not report greater intake of total energy or macronutrients. These findings indicate that caloric intake alone does not account for the metabolic and biochemical disparities observed in this population.
• Are nutrient inadequacies common among adolescents regardless of weight status?
  Yes. More than half of all adolescents—whether they had obesity or not—failed to meet the EAR or AI for several important nutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, food folate, vitamin A, and dietary fiber. This widespread pattern of low nutrient intake reflects overall poor diet quality among U.S. adolescents and indicates that nutrient inadequacy is not limited to those with obesity.
• What blood biomarkers differ significantly between adolescents with and without obesity?
  Adolescents with obesity exhibited significantly lower mean levels of several micronutrient‑related biomarkers, including 25‑hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin C, and serum iron. Conversely, they had significantly higher concentrations of total protein, globulin, and high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP). These patterns indicate that adolescents with obesity experience both greater micronutrient insufficiency and greater systemic inflammation compared with their peers without obesity.

References:

• Stutts JT, Choe YS, Bronston AL. Adolescent obesity: biochemical and dietary disparities in U.S. youth. Obesity Pillars. 2026;17:100239. doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100239

Disclosures:

• All the authors listed have approved the manuscript and have no conflicts of interest in this paper. Authors are employees and stockholders of Abbott (Abbott Park, IL, USA).