Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in a U.S. pediatric surgical population

Olubukola O Nafiu1, Khady S Ndao-Brumlay, Olumuyiwa A Bamgbade

  • 1University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, 1H247 UH-Box 0048, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. onafiu@med.umich.edu

Journal of the National Medical Association
|February 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Overweight and obesity are prevalent in pediatric surgical patients, with high rates found in this study. Further research is needed to understand the impact on surgical outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Understanding the prevalence of overweight and obesity in surgical populations is crucial for perioperative care.
  • Previous studies have not extensively focused on the surgical pediatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children undergoing surgery.
  • To identify common surgical procedures in overweight and obese pediatric patients.
  • To analyze the preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification distribution in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of a perioperative database from 2000-2004 at a US teaching hospital.
  • Inclusion of 6,017 children with directly measured height and weight to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • Utilized National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2000) growth charts for age- and gender-specific definitions of overweight and obesity.

Main Results:

  • The pediatric surgical population exhibited a high mean BMI of 21.6 kg/m².
  • Overall prevalence of overweight was 14.4% and obesity was 17.2% using age-specific criteria.
  • Orthopedic and otolaryngological procedures were most common; 35.3% of obese children were ASA I.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in pediatric surgical patients.
  • A significant proportion of these children have a low ASA classification despite their weight status.
  • Further investigation into the perioperative outcomes for overweight and obese pediatric surgical patients is warranted.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Techniques of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Modified Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Mice10:05

Techniques of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Modified Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Mice

Published on: March 20, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion01:20

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion

Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...