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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

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Metabolic complications of childhood obesity

Jeyaraj Munusamy1, Jaivinder Yadav1, Rakesh Kumar1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
|July 29, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is a significant health issue, with many obese children experiencing metabolic complications like prediabetes and dyslipidemia. Early screening and intervention are crucial for managing these risks and protecting children's long-term health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern, affecting Indian children with significant prevalence.
  • Obesity in children is linked to severe health issues including diabetes, heart disease, and increased mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of metabolic complications in obese children and their parents.
  • To compare metabolic health between obese children and normal-weight controls.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary health center in northern India.
  • Involved 60 obese children and 26 age/sex-matched controls using Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) 2015 BMI charts.
  • Evaluated anthropometric parameters, clinical markers, and laboratory metabolic profiles, comparing cases and controls.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of obesity-related complications observed in families of obese children.
  • Significant percentages of obese children exhibited impaired fasting glucose (10%), prediabetes (30% HbA1c), dyslipidemia (40%), and transaminitis (45%).
  • Vitamin D deficiency (46.7%) and fatty liver (41.7%) were also common findings in obese children.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity and family health are interconnected through genetics and environment.
  • Metabolic complications such as prediabetes, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and vitamin D deficiency are prevalent in childhood obesity.
  • Regular screening and timely interventions for metabolic complications are vital for safeguarding children's future health.
Abstract

Keywords:
Childlifestylemetabolic complicationsobesity

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