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Profiles of obese children presenting for metabolic evaluation
J Anavian1, D J Brenner, P Fort
1Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
Background:
Obesity, increasingly prevalent among children, causes major morbidities, among which is earlier onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
Methods:
We reviewed charts of children aged 3 to 18 years (n=106). The population was divided into four age groups. Anthropomorphic measurements, family history, diet and exercise patterns, and selected endocrine/metabolic measurements were recorded, and descriptive statistics were calculated.
Results:
Obesity in one or both parents correlated with a higher percent of ideal body weight (IBW) (p = 0.01). Fifty-eight percent of the children had first- or second-degree relatives with a history of type 2 DM; 9% had relatives with type 1 DM. Fifty-four percent had dieted and exercised regularly. Mean onset of obesity was at 4.2 +/- 0.9 years. Mean cholesterol was elevated at 176 mg/dl. Average BMI was 26.6 in the youngest children (Group 1; normal mean for this age approximately 15.5), and increased to 37.8 in adolescents (Group 4; normal mean approximately 21). Elevated TSH was present in <1% of the population. The number of patients with an abnormal insulin: glucose ratio (>1:4) increased with age.
Conclusions:
Childhood obesity in children is correlated with family histories of obesity and DM. Thyroid dysfunction is seldom found, although mild hypercholesterolemia and insulin insensitivity are prevalent, especially among adolescents.