Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Obese Children

Cho, Su Jin; Park, Se Jin; Hwang, Il Tae; Hong, Young Mi

Abstract

PURPOSE: Obesity is known to be associated with complications such as hypertension, dyslipide mia, and insulin resistance. The importance of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been emphasized in obesity. Homocysteine is an emerging important risk factor for cardiovascular dis ease in adult, but there are less reports about homocysteine in children. Several risk factors such as blood pressure, lipid profiles, serum insulin, and homocysteine were analyzed in obese children.
METHODS
130 obese and 1801 non-obese children were examined and body mass index(BMI) was calculated from their height and weight. Bioelectrical impedence was measured with Inbody 2.0 for estimation of fat mass. Serum lipid levels(total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), insulin, and homocysteine levels were measured. Blood pressure was taken with an oscillometric sphyngmomanometer.
RESULTS
Fat mass was increased with the increase of BMI. Systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, and insulin were significantly correlated with the severity of obesity. The serum homocysteine level was not significantly different in obese children.
CONCLUSION
Systolic blood pressure, insulin, and triglyceride may be risk factors for cardiovas cular disease in obese children. The serum homocysteine level did not show a significant differ ence between normal and obese children. Further prospective study will be necessary to prevent cardiovascular disease in obese adults.