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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

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Small for gestational age status is associated with metabolic syndrome in overweight children

Thomas Reinehr1, Michaela Kleber, Andre Michael Toschke

  • 1Department of Pediatric Nutrition Medicine, Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany. t.reinehr@kinderklinik-datteln.de

European Journal of Endocrinology
|January 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) who are overweight face a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. This suggests SGA status is an independent risk factor for MetS in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Small for gestational age (SGA) children are predisposed to obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  • The independent contribution of SGA status versus obesity to MetS development in these children remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether former SGA status increases the risk of MetS components in overweight children.
  • To compare MetS prevalence in overweight children with and without a history of SGA.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 803 overweight children (aged 11 years) for blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and insulin.
  • Oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTT) conducted in 35 former SGA and 147 former appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children.

Main Results:

  • Former SGA status was linked to elevated blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose levels post-oGTT.
  • MetS prevalence was over double in overweight former SGA children (40%) compared to overweight former AGA children (17%).
  • Adjusted odds ratio for MetS was 4.08 for SGA versus AGA children.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight children with a history of SGA exhibit a significantly increased risk for MetS components.
  • SGA status appears to be an independent risk factor for MetS, irrespective of current weight status.
  • Screening for MetS is particularly recommended for overweight children with a history of SGA.
Abstract

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