Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka

Childhood obesity-related metabolic derangements are increasing among South Asian populations. Most of these changes persist to adulthood. This study aims to describe the distribution of metabolic abnormalities among 7- to 17-year-old overweight and obese children in the Gampaha District of Sri Lank...

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Main Authors: Loretta S. Warnakulasuriya, Dulani L. Samaranayake, Adikaram V. N. Adikaram, Manel M. A. Fernando, Elisabet Rytter, Iris Ciba, Peter Bergsten, Anders H. Forslund, K. D. Renuka Ruchira Silva, Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9936889
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author Loretta S. Warnakulasuriya
Dulani L. Samaranayake
Adikaram V. N. Adikaram
Manel M. A. Fernando
Elisabet Rytter
Iris Ciba
Peter Bergsten
Anders H. Forslund
K. D. Renuka Ruchira Silva
Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe
author_facet Loretta S. Warnakulasuriya
Dulani L. Samaranayake
Adikaram V. N. Adikaram
Manel M. A. Fernando
Elisabet Rytter
Iris Ciba
Peter Bergsten
Anders H. Forslund
K. D. Renuka Ruchira Silva
Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe
author_sort Loretta S. Warnakulasuriya
collection DOAJ
description Childhood obesity-related metabolic derangements are increasing among South Asian populations. Most of these changes persist to adulthood. This study aims to describe the distribution of metabolic abnormalities among 7- to 17-year-old overweight and obese children in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka. Overweight children (age- and gender-adapted BMI>+1SD, WHO standards) were selected from a community survey carried out in the Negombo Education Zone of Gampaha District. After a 12-hour overnight fast, blood was drawn, and blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, insulin, and liver transaminases were measured. Two hours after a glucose load, blood was drawn for random blood glucose (RBG) and insulin. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed using modified IDF criteria for children. Anthropometry, fat mass (FM), and blood pressure were measured. Hepatic fat pattern was assessed ultrasonically. The data of 403 children (210 boys) were analysed. Of the study population, 16.4% were overweight (BMI for age +1 to +2SD), 72% were obese (BMI for age >+2 to +3SD), and 11.6% were severely obese (BMI for age >+3SD). Insulin resistance was seen in 46.8%, and prevalence increased with age. Mean postprandial insulin ranged from 368 to 625 pmol/L and was elevated in 35%. Dysglycaemia was seen among 20.8%. MetS was present in 19.8%, and 84% had at least one metabolic abnormality. Different degrees of hepatic steatosis were observed in 32.5%, and elevated ALT/AST ratio was seen in 58% of the population. Overweight and obesity during childhood were associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities including MetS, and they occur from a young age. It is important to screen children for overweight/obesity early in life and intervene to prevent them from developing metabolic complications.
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spelling doaj-art-6d7ca8b99f76498e8990bcace4403edf2025-08-20T03:33:53ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99368899936889Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri LankaLoretta S. Warnakulasuriya0Dulani L. Samaranayake1Adikaram V. N. Adikaram2Manel M. A. Fernando3Elisabet Rytter4Iris Ciba5Peter Bergsten6Anders H. Forslund7K. D. Renuka Ruchira Silva8Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe9Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri LankaDepartment of Community Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri LankaHealth Unit, Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri LankaColombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri LankaClinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Public Health and Caring Science, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Applied Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila, Sri LankaDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri LankaChildhood obesity-related metabolic derangements are increasing among South Asian populations. Most of these changes persist to adulthood. This study aims to describe the distribution of metabolic abnormalities among 7- to 17-year-old overweight and obese children in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka. Overweight children (age- and gender-adapted BMI>+1SD, WHO standards) were selected from a community survey carried out in the Negombo Education Zone of Gampaha District. After a 12-hour overnight fast, blood was drawn, and blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, insulin, and liver transaminases were measured. Two hours after a glucose load, blood was drawn for random blood glucose (RBG) and insulin. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed using modified IDF criteria for children. Anthropometry, fat mass (FM), and blood pressure were measured. Hepatic fat pattern was assessed ultrasonically. The data of 403 children (210 boys) were analysed. Of the study population, 16.4% were overweight (BMI for age +1 to +2SD), 72% were obese (BMI for age >+2 to +3SD), and 11.6% were severely obese (BMI for age >+3SD). Insulin resistance was seen in 46.8%, and prevalence increased with age. Mean postprandial insulin ranged from 368 to 625 pmol/L and was elevated in 35%. Dysglycaemia was seen among 20.8%. MetS was present in 19.8%, and 84% had at least one metabolic abnormality. Different degrees of hepatic steatosis were observed in 32.5%, and elevated ALT/AST ratio was seen in 58% of the population. Overweight and obesity during childhood were associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities including MetS, and they occur from a young age. It is important to screen children for overweight/obesity early in life and intervene to prevent them from developing metabolic complications.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9936889
spellingShingle Loretta S. Warnakulasuriya
Dulani L. Samaranayake
Adikaram V. N. Adikaram
Manel M. A. Fernando
Elisabet Rytter
Iris Ciba
Peter Bergsten
Anders H. Forslund
K. D. Renuka Ruchira Silva
Vithanage Pujitha Wickramasinghe
Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
International Journal of Endocrinology
title Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
title_full Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
title_fullStr Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
title_full_unstemmed Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
title_short Metabolic Abnormalities in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Children in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
title_sort metabolic abnormalities in a cohort of overweight and obese children in an urban setting of sri lanka
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9936889
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