Assessment of Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents with Obesity in Ile-Ife, South West Nigeria

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is the occurrence of risk factors which increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These risks factors include abdominal obesity, hypertension, increased triglycerides (TG), elevated blood glucose, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL- C). MS is now increasingly reported among children and adolescents.

To assess risk factors for MS in adolescents with and without obesity.

One hundred and twenty-five adolescents with obesity and an equal number of age- and sex- matched adolescents without obesity from secondary schools in Ile- Ife were studied. Weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure (BP) were determined. Seven mls of venous blood from each participant (collected after a 12 hour overnight fast) were processed and analysed for total plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Low density lipoprotein - cholesterol (LDL-C) was determined using Friedewald formula. Data was analysed using independent samples t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Pearson's correlation analysis. P- value was set at ˂ 0.05.

Adolescents with obesity had elevated systolic (122.03 ± 13.93 mmHg vs 109.82 ± 12.07 mmHg; t= 7.40, p= 0.001) and diastolic blood pressures (76.06 ± 10.22 mmHg vs 66.78 ± 9.18 mmHg; t= 7.55, p= 0.001) compared with non- obese adolescents. Significant differences in mean HDL-C (0.97 ±0.28mmol/L vs 1.11 ± 0.38mmol/L; t= -3.40, p= 0.001) and FPG (4.30 ± 0.78mmol/Lvs 3.95 ± 0.83mmol/L; t= 3.45, p = 0.001) in adolescents with and without obesity were observed. MS was present in 18 adolescents with obesity (predominantly males) and absent in adolescents without obesity.

Older male adolescents with obesity are at increased risk of MS. Low HDL- C, elevated BP and abdominal obesity were the most frequently identified risk factors.