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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and obesity/metabolic syndrome in children]
Fangfang Chen1, Wenpeng Wang1, Yue Teng2
1Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.
Insights
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is linked to childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome factors. Obesity, particularly waist circumference, is the strongest independent predictor of hsCRP levels in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are growing public health concerns.
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a marker of inflammation associated with cardiovascular risk.
- Understanding the relationship between hsCRP and MetS components in children is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hsCRP and various obesity and MetS-related factors in a cohort of Chinese children.
- To identify the primary drivers of elevated hsCRP in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 403 children aged 10-14 years from Beijing.
- Measurements included anthropometrics (height, weight, waist circumference, fat mass percentage), blood pressure, and biochemical markers (hsCRP, lipids, glucose).
- Statistical analyses included partial correlation, ANCOVA, and linear regression, with hsCRP log-transformed (lgCRP) and MetS defined by IDF criteria.
Main Results:
- Log-transformed hsCRP (lgCRP) showed positive correlations with BMI, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, LDL-C, and TC, and a negative correlation with HDL-C.
- These associations, particularly with blood pressure and triglycerides, diminished after controlling for BMI, though a link with LDL-C persisted.
- Linear regression identified waist circumference, BMI, and fat mass percentage as the strongest predictors of hsCRP, with obesity being the most significant independent factor.
Conclusions:
- hsCRP is significantly associated with obesity, lipid profiles, and metabolic syndrome components in children.
- Waist circumference and overall obesity are the most influential factors associated with hsCRP levels.
- Obesity emerges as a key independent determinant of elevated hsCRP in pediatric populations, highlighting the importance of weight management.
Objective:
To explore the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and obesity/metabolic syndrome (MetS) related factors in children.
Methods:
403 children aged 10-14 and born in Beijing were involved in this study. Height, weight, waist circumference, fat mass percentage (Fat%), blood pressure (BP), hsCRP, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C) were observed among these children. hsCRP was transformed with base 10 logarithm (lgCRP). MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation 2007 definition. Associations between MetS related components and hsCRP were tested using partial correlation analysis, analysis of covariance and linear regression models.
Results:
1) lgCRP was positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, Fat%,BP, FPG, LDL-C and TC while negatively correlated with HDL-C. With BMI under control, the relationships disappeared, but LDL-C (r = 0.102). 2) The distributions of lgCRP showed obvious differences in all the metabolic indices, in most groups, respectively. With BMI under control, close relationships between lgCRP and high blood pressure/high TG disappeared and the relationship with MetS weakened. 3) Through linear regression models, factors as waist circumference, BMI, Fat% were the strongest factors related to hsCRP, followed by systolic BP, HDL-C, diastolic BP, TG and LDL-C. With BMI under control, the relationships disappeared, but LDL-C(β = 0.045).
Conclusion:
hsCRP was correlated with child obesity, lipid metabolism and MetS. Waist circumference was the strongest factors related with hsCRP. Obesity was the strongest and the independent influencing factor of hsCRP.
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