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Assesment of functional gastrointestinal diseases in obese children

Umit Kiyak1, Nafiye Urganci2, Merve Usta3

  • 1SBU Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics, MD, Istanbul, Turkey.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|August 22, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Obese children experience significantly higher rates of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Early assessment of these gut-brain interaction symptoms in pediatric obesity can prevent unnecessary medical tests.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Obesity Research
  • Gut-Brain Interactions

Background:

  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are increasingly recognized as prevalent in obese populations.
  • FGID are characterized by chronic gastrointestinal symptoms stemming from gut-brain interaction issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of FGID in a cohort of obese children.
  • To compare FGID rates between obese and non-obese children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 405 children aged 6-18 years.
  • Children were categorized based on Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles (<85th and >95th).
  • FGID diagnosis utilized the ROME VI criteria, with detailed demographic and clinical evaluations.

Main Results:

  • Over half of the children (50.6%) had a BMI >95th percentile, with 55.1% of these experiencing FGID.
  • Functional abdominal pain disorders and functional defecation disorders were significantly more prevalent in obese children (P < 0.01).
  • Constipation-predominant IBS, diarrhea-predominant IBS, functional diarrhea, and abdominal distention were also significantly higher in the obese group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • FGID are significantly more common in obese children compared to their non-obese peers.
  • Routine assessment for functional gastrointestinal symptoms in obese children is recommended to avoid unnecessary investigations.
  • These findings highlight the critical link between pediatric obesity and gut-brain dysfunction.

Keywords:
ChildrenFunctional gastrointestinal disordersObesityROME IV criteria

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