Metabolic syndrome in Tunisian obese children and adolescents

To determine the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese children and adolescents.

This cross-sectional study concerned 186 obese children and adolescents (137 girls and 49 boys), between the ages of 6 and 18 years, recruited in the research unit on human obesity of the National Institute of Nutrition between December 2007 and October 2008. Metabolic syndrome was defined with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.

The frequency of MS was 34.4%. It was higher in males (40.8%) than in females (32.1%) but without statistical significance (p=0.27). Body mass index and waist circumference were significantly higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome than that of subjects without metabolic syndrome. The frequency of MS increases with age. Family history of obesity, birth weight and breastfeeding did not influence the prevalence of MS. The most common component, associated with abdominal obesity, was Glucose tolerance abnormalities observed in 51 % of the sample. 65.6% of subjects with MS had 3 criteria of the five proposed by the IDF.

Metabolic syndrome is prevalent in our young obese population. Early identification of young at risk is crucial to the prevention of early cardiovascular diseases.