Metabolic syndrome in childhood obesity.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the frequency of metabolic risk factors and the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in childhood obesity.

SUBJECTS: 186 obese children (97 females and 89 males), aged 11.2 +/- 2.8 (6-16) years and 98 healthy children (46 females and 52 males), aged 10.9 +/- 3.2 (6-16) years were recruited for the study, as study and control groups, respectively.

METHODS: Subjects were evaluated for anthropometry, blood pressure (BP) and biochemical cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic syndrome was defined in presence of > or = 3 of the following: (i) fasting triglyceride > or = 100 mg/dL; (ii) high density lipoprotein-cholesterol < 50 mg/dL, except in boys aged 15 to 19 years, in whom the cut-off point was 45 mg/dL; (iii) fasting glucose > or = 110 mg/dL; (iv) waist circumference > 75th percentile for age and gender and (v) systolic BP > 90th percentile.

RESULTS: We found that 144 (77.4%) children in the obese group had one, two or more cardiovascular risk factors. Using a pediatric definition, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.1%. In the control group, the clustering of one, two and three risk factors was very rare.

CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity is associated with increased frequency of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.