Obesity

Childhood Obesity Risk Factors Identified

Family history of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases are significant risk factors for childhood obesity and its severity, according to new findings.

Researchers reached this conclusion following a study of 260 children aged 2.4 to 17.2 years who were overweight or obese.
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Data regarding family history for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases were recorded, and all patients included in the study underwent clinical and auxological examination and fasting blood sampling for metabolic profile.

The researchers performed homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma for all participants.

In addition, children were categorized as having a body mass index (BMI) standard deviation (SD) of more or less than 2.5. They were further divided based on age (younger than age 8 years, 8 to 11 years, or older than age 11 years).

Results of the study revealed that BMI SD was negatively correlated with chronological age and was significantly higher in children younger than age 8 years. BMI SD was also found to be positively associated with family history for obesity.

Characteristics that were strongly associated with more severe obesity included younger age (especially pre-pubertal children), higher HOMA-IR, and family history for arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery diseases.

At the end of their study, the researchers arrived at the following conclusions:

  • Important risk factors for childhood obesity onset include family history of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, which are also related to obesity severity.
  • Metabolic profile, especially HOMA-IR, is altered even in the youngest children with obesity children at first evaluation.
  • The use of BMI SD for the stratification of obesity severity is effective for the estimation of patients’ cardiometabolic risk.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Corica D, Aversa T, Valenzise M, et al. Does family history of obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases influence onset and severity of childhood obesity? [Published online May 2, 2018]. Front Endocrinol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00187

 

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