Age-Specific Peculiarities of Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of our investigation was the evaluation of Age-Specific Peculiarities of Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents.

Methods. 117 patients (40 boys, 77 girls) were included in the investigation. Control group was formed by 39 children and adolescents of same age and normal body mass. Investigated patients were divided by 2 groups: group 1 – patients of 8-12 years of age (n=58, 26 boys and 32 girls, mean age - 10.24 ± 1.45 years); group 2 – patients of 13-15 years (n=59, 14 boys and 45 girls, mean age - 13.88 ± 0.83 years). Anthropometric data – body mass and height, waist circumference (WC), WC (cm) to body height (cm) ratio – WHtR – have been measured. The values of BMI percentiles were calculated from age and sex data of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plasma glucose, lipid, C-peptide and insulin levels have been measured.

Results. Anthropometric data of group 1 and group 2 were significantly higher compared to data of controls despite body height. The comparison of these data between groups showed significant difference in WC values (p=0.0237). However, the WHtR values did not differ significantly. Systolic blood pressure in groups was differed from corresponding parameters of control groups and comparison of BP values between groups did not reveal significant difference. Significant difference between fasting and postprandial glucose, HBA1C and fasting insulin levels in group 1 and corresponding control group was not fixed, however fasting C-peptide (p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (p<0.001) values were significantly higher in group 1 compared to control. Significant difference between postprandial glucose, HBA1C and fasting insulin levels in group 2 and corresponding control group was not fixed, however fasting plasma glucose (p<0.001) and C-peptide (p<0.001), postprandial insulin (p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (p<0.001) values were significantly higher in group 2 compared to control. Fasting glucose (p_1-2=0.0133) and HBA1C (p_1-2=0.0237) levels were significantly increased in group 2 compared to group 1. All parameters of lipid metabolism in group 1 were significantly differed from analogous ones of corresponding controls. Total cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and Triglyceride values in group 2 were significantly differed from analogous ones of corresponding controls (p<0.001). However, the difference between HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels in groups was not significant. It should be noted that adolescent patients were characterized by significantly low levels of HDL-cholesterol (p=0.0247) compared to group 1.

Conclusions. It should be concluded based on obtained data that there are no any valuable age-specific peculiarities of anthropometric and metabolic parameters of overweight and obese children and adolescents. However, it is necessary to consider a matter of screening of obesity (especially visceral obesity) attentively. It is also necessary to focus attention on the duration of excessive body mass and obesity and/or visceral obesity.