Beware: Childhood Obesity Increases Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease

Changes in lifestyle and high consumption of foods containing salt or sodium are now a serious threat to children’s health. Doctor Henny Adriani Puspitasari, a paediatric nephrology specialist at Pondok Indah Hospital, has warned that these conditions significantly increase the risk of kidney disorders in children through obesity. “We see that a shift in lifestyle, especially foods with high sodium intake, is causing many children to become obese,” said dr. Henny during a health discussion in Jakarta on Friday (19/6/2026). The University of Indonesia Faculty of Medicine graduate explained that excessive sodium consumption triggers obesity, which then becomes a gateway for hypertension. High blood pressure is the main factor triggering chronic kidney disease at a young age. According to her, obesity forces the body’s organs, including the kidneys, to work extra hard. This excessive workload over a long period can permanently damage the kidneys’ filtration function. The assumption that kidney disease only affects adults is no longer relevant. Current clinical practice shows an increase in kidney disorder cases among paediatric patients. Beyond diet, dr. Henny, who is also a member of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), highlighted prenatal and neonatal factors. Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight (LBW) face higher risks because their kidney formation is incomplete. “Kidneys begin forming from eight weeks of gestation until around 36 weeks. If a baby is born prematurely, it means their kidney function has not finished developing,” she explained. Children with such histories require much stricter health monitoring. To protect children’s kidney function into adulthood, dr. Henny provided several practical recommendations for parents. “Early prevention through a healthy lifestyle is a crucial step to protect children’s future from the threat of metabolic disease and kidney damage,” she concluded.