Waist-to-height ratio, inflammation and CVD risk in obese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Cardiovascular Health
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing concern with potential long-term health implications.
• Central obesity, indicated by waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), is associated with metabolic disturbances.
• Prepubertal children are at risk for developing early markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and biomarkers of inflammation, CVD risk, and endothelial dysfunction.
• To assess these associations specifically in prepubertal obese children compared to normal-weight peers.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicentre case-control study involving 446 Caucasian prepubertal children (aged 6-12 years).
• Participants were categorized into normal-weight (n=223) and obese (n=223) groups, matched for age and sex.
• Measurements included WHtR, blood pressure, various plasma biomarkers (lipids, cytokines, adhesion molecules), and glucose levels.

Main Results:

• Obese children exhibited significantly higher WHtR, blood pressure, and numerous inflammatory and CVD risk biomarkers compared to normal-weight children.
• Resistin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were significantly associated with WHtR.
• Adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol levels were lower in obese children, while glucose showed no difference.

Conclusions:

• Elevated WHtR in prepubertal obese children is associated with increased inflammation and CVD risk markers.
• These findings suggest that metabolic alterations related to obesity begin before puberty.
• Early identification and intervention in obese children are crucial to mitigate future cardiovascular and metabolic consequences.