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Body mass index is associated with hypoglycaemia in children with acute vomiting and dehydration

Simona Tarnokova1, Lenka Langerova2, Sabina Szoradova2

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Institute for Children´s Diseases, Limbova, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Plos One
|January 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Low body mass index (BMI) and absence of diarrhea are key factors increasing hypoglycemia risk in children with vomiting and dehydration. This highlights the importance of monitoring BMI in pediatric care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Children aged 7 months to 7 years are susceptible to hypoglycemia during prolonged fasting, especially with acute illness and reduced oral intake.
  • This study investigates additional factors contributing to hypoglycemia in children experiencing acute vomiting and dehydration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with hypoglycemia in healthy children admitted with dehydration due to acute illness and poor oral intake.
  • To explore the relationship between anthropometric parameters and hypoglycemia in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective single-center study involving 560 healthy children and adolescents (29 days to 17.96 years).
  • Evaluation of historical and anthropometric data to determine associations with hypoglycemia.
  • Participants were hospitalized for dehydration resulting from acute illness with vomiting or poor oral intake.

Main Results:

  • Hypoglycemia (≤3.3 mmol/l) occurred in 30.5% of participants (n=171).
  • Independent factors associated with hypoglycemia included higher dehydration severity, complete absence of oral intake, presence of diarrhea, and lower body mass index (BMI).
  • Children with hypoglycemia exhibited significantly lower median BMI (14.29 vs 15.46 kg/m2); the highest hypoglycemia rates were in the 2-7 year age groups with the lowest median BMIs.

Conclusions:

  • Low BMI and the absence of diarrhea are linked to an increased likelihood of hypoglycemia in children.
  • The physiological dip in BMI observed in children aged 2-7 years may contribute to the higher incidence of hypoglycemia in this age group during periods of reduced oral intake.
Abstract

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