Gut Microbiota in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

This article analyzes the structural and functional changes of the gut microbiota in children and adolescents with obesity, their impact on metabolic status, and their role in the pathogenesis of obesity. The results of the study show that intestinal dysbiosis, particularly changes in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a decrease in beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and an increase in pro-inflammatory microorganisms contribute to the development of obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The article highlights, based on scientific sources, the role of the gut microbiota in energy metabolism, the production of short-chain fatty acids, the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, the regulation of immune response, and chronic inflammatory processes. According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, 160 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years worldwide were affected by obesity, while 390 million were overweight. In Uzbekistan, in 2022, 13,743 cases of obesity were registered among children and adolescents aged 0–17 years, which represents a 23.8% increase compared to 2018. In addition, the article discusses probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, diet therapy, and innovative methods of gut microbiota modulation as promising approaches in the комплекс treatment of obesity. According to the study’s conclusions, early monitoring and targeted correction of the gut microbiota are of great importance in preventing obesity and its complications in children and adolescents.