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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Importance of plasma leptin in predicting future weight gain in obese children: a two-and-a-half-year longitudinal
1Department of Pediatrics and The Children's General Clinical Research Center and the Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Insights
High leptin levels predict future weight gain in obese girls, but not boys. This finding highlights a potential gender-specific marker for monitoring adiposity changes in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Obesity Research
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, plays a role in appetite regulation and energy balance.
- Understanding predictors of adiposity changes is crucial for effective intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether baseline leptin levels predict changes in adiposity over time in obese children.
- To explore potential gender differences in the relationship between leptin and weight gain.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 68 obese children (aged 7-18 years) was conducted.
- Fasting insulin, leptin, height, and weight were measured at baseline and after a 2.5-year follow-up.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-scores were used to assess adiposity and track changes.
Main Results:
- While preadolescent boys and girls showed similar baseline characteristics, adolescent girls had significantly higher leptin levels than boys.
- No significant gender differences in weight change were observed.
- Multiple linear regression revealed that high baseline leptin levels were a significant predictor of increased BMI Z-score changes in girls, explaining 18% of weight gain.
Conclusions:
- Elevated leptin levels are associated with greater future weight gain specifically in obese girls.
- This suggests a potential gender-specific role of leptin in adiposity progression in childhood and adolescence.
Objective:
To determine whether relatively low leptin levels predict changes in adiposity in prepubertal and pubertal obese children.
Research Methods And Procedures:
In a biracial cohort of 68 obese children (33 male and 35 female; 46 Caucasians and 22 African-Americans, age range 7-18 y), we measured at baseline fasting insulin and leptin levels, height and weight and calculated body mass index (kg/m(2)) and expressed body mass index as (BMI) Z-score. After a 2.5-y follow-up, anthropometric measurements were repeated and changes in weight gain were calculated as changes in BMI Z-score.
Results:
At baseline obese preadolescent boys and girls had similar age and BMI Z-score, fasting insulin and leptin levels. After an average follow-up of 2.5 y, mean weight change calculated by changes in BMI Z-score from baseline was similar in both groups. In obese adolescent boys and girls at baseline, no significant gender differences were observed for BMI Z-score and insulin levels. In contrast, plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in obese girls compared with obese adolescent boys. At follow-up, there was no significant difference in change in BMI Z-score between obese boys and girls. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that high basal leptin levels were positively associated with greater changes in BMI Z-score only in girls (r(2)=0.18, P<0.02), after adjusting for basal BMI Z-score, Tanner stage, years of follow-up and basal insulin. High basal leptin levels in girls explained 18% of the weight gain.
Conclusion:
High leptin levels are associated with excessive future weight gain only in girls.
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