Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in elementary school children
Katrina D DuBose1, Elizabeth E Stewart, Shannon R Charbonneau
1Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA. dubosek@ecu.edu
Aim:
To determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its related components in elementary-aged school children.
Methods:
Three hundred and seventy-five 7-9-y-old boys (n=182) and girls (n=193) in the eastern Kansas area served as participants. Criteria for the MS were the presence of three or more of the following components: 1) central obesity (waist circumference>or=90th percentile in males and females); 2) elevated triglyceride concentrations (>or=1.13 mmol/l); 3) low HDL-C concentrations (
Results:
The prevalence of the MS in this sample was 5%, and was similar across gender and race. Fifty percent of the children had no components and 15% had at least two components, with elevated blood pressure the most common component (37%).
Conclusion:
The MS is prevalent even in young children at rates similarly reported in adolescents.
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