Obesity is significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors in 2- to 9-year-olds

The objective of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in ethnically diverse young children. A retrospective medical chart review identified overweight/obese 2- to 9-year-old children (N=147) from a local pediatric clinic who were matched (for age, sex, and ethnicity) with normal weight patients from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N=294). Comparisons of mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, total, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were conducted. Results showed that compared with the population-based normal-weight sample, the local overweight/obese sample was significantly more likely to have diastolic prehypertension (15% vs. 75%, P<.0001), systolic prehypertension (10% vs. 43%, P<.0001), and the lowest quintile of HDL cholesterol (19% vs. 34%, P=.003). At this young age, excess weight is significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. These results suggest that overweight/obese children in this age group should be monitored closely to prevent potential chronic disease risk.