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Iron profile and dietary pattern of primary school obese Egyptian children
Mohamed A Abd-El Wahed1, Maha H Mohamed, Samia S Ibrahim
1Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Insights
Obese Egyptian children have a significantly higher risk of iron deficiency (ID) despite similar dietary iron intake. Screening for ID is recommended for children with elevated body mass index (BMI).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Hematology
Background:
- Global rise in obesity and poor iron status presents a significant public health challenge.
- Existing research suggests a link between iron status and obesity in various age groups.
- The study focuses on Egyptian primary school children, a population with rising obesity rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the iron profile in obese versus non-obese primary school-aged children in Egypt.
- To analyze the dietary patterns of these children in relation to their iron status.
- To determine if obesity is a risk factor for iron deficiency in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 120 children (60 obese, 60 non-obese) aged 6-12 years.
- Comprehensive assessments included medical and dietetic history, anthropometry, and clinical examination.
- Laboratory tests measured complete blood count, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation (TS), and ferritin.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited significantly lower hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, serum iron, and TS compared to controls.
- Increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and total iron-binding capacity were observed in obese children.
- The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) was significantly higher in the obese group, with obesity identified as a major risk factor (OR: 7.09).
Conclusions:
- A strong association exists between iron deficiency and obesity in primary school children.
- Routine screening for iron deficiency is advised for children with elevated BMIs.
- Public health initiatives should focus on promoting physical activity and nutritional education to combat both obesity and ID.
Background:
Poor iron status affects billions of people worldwide. The prevalence of obesity continues to rise in both the developed and developing nations. An association between iron status and obesity has been described in children and adults. The aim of the study was to assess the iron profile and dietary pattern in primary school-aged obese Egyptian children.
Materials And Methods:
A case-control study was conducted on 120 children, both obese (n=60) and control group (n=60), recruited from three primary governmental schools located in Dokki Sector, El-Giza Governorate, Egypt. Their ages ranged from 6 to 12 years. All children were subjected to full medical and dietetic history, anthropometric measurements, thorough clinical examination, and determination of complete blood count, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation (TS), and ferritin.
Results:
Despite similar dietary iron intake in the two groups, obese children showed highly significantly decreased hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, serum iron, and TS, and increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and total iron-binding capacity when compared with the nonobese group. The obese group showed a highly significant increased rate of iron deficiency (ID) (TS<15% or mean corpuscular volume<76 fl) when compared with the nonobese group. Obesity was a significant risk factor for the development of ID (odds ratio: 7.09, 95% confidence interval: 3.16-15.92).
Conclusion And Recommendations:
The association between ID and obesity may have important public health and clinical implications. For primary school children with elevated BMIs, screening for ID should be considered. Increasing awareness of the importance of physical activity and carrying out nutritional education programs are required.
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