Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight

Aim. To evaluate whether body fat distribution, birth weight, and family history for diabetes (FHD) were associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents. Methods. A total of 439 Italian obese children and adolescents (5–18 years) were enrolled. Subjects were divided into 2 grou...

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Main Authors: Claudia Brufani, Danilo Fintini, Ugo Giordano, Alberto Enrico Tozzi, Fabrizio Barbetti, Marco Cappa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hypertension
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/257168
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author Claudia Brufani
Danilo Fintini
Ugo Giordano
Alberto Enrico Tozzi
Fabrizio Barbetti
Marco Cappa
author_facet Claudia Brufani
Danilo Fintini
Ugo Giordano
Alberto Enrico Tozzi
Fabrizio Barbetti
Marco Cappa
author_sort Claudia Brufani
collection DOAJ
description Aim. To evaluate whether body fat distribution, birth weight, and family history for diabetes (FHD) were associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents. Methods. A total of 439 Italian obese children and adolescents (5–18 years) were enrolled. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: prepubertal and pubertal. MetS was diagnosed according to the adapted National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. Birth weight percentile, central obesity index (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), insulin sensitivity (ISI), and disposition index were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine variables associated with MetS. Results. The prevalence of MetS was 17%, with higher percentage in adolescents than in children (21 versus 12%). In the overall population, central obesity index was a stronger predictor of MetS than insulin sensitivity and low birth weight. When the two groups were considered, central fat depot remained the strongest predictor of MetS, with ISI similarly influencing the probability of MetS in the two groups and birth weight being negatively associated to MetS only in pubertal individuals. Neither FHD nor degree of fatness was a significant predictor of MetS. Conclusion. Simple clinical parameters like increased abdominal adiposity and low birth weight could be useful tools to identify European obese adolescents at risk for metabolic complications.
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spelling doaj-art-952c40c671b64eccaede1e544ac7e9eb2025-08-20T02:09:58ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hypertension2090-03922011-01-01201110.4061/2011/257168257168Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth WeightClaudia Brufani0Danilo Fintini1Ugo Giordano2Alberto Enrico Tozzi3Fabrizio Barbetti4Marco Cappa5Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, University Department of Paediatric Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyCardiorespiratory and Sport Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyCardiorespiratory and Sport Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyEpidemiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Monogenic Diabetes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyEndocrinology and Diabetes Unit, University Department of Paediatric Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S.Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, ItalyAim. To evaluate whether body fat distribution, birth weight, and family history for diabetes (FHD) were associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents. Methods. A total of 439 Italian obese children and adolescents (5–18 years) were enrolled. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: prepubertal and pubertal. MetS was diagnosed according to the adapted National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. Birth weight percentile, central obesity index (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), insulin sensitivity (ISI), and disposition index were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine variables associated with MetS. Results. The prevalence of MetS was 17%, with higher percentage in adolescents than in children (21 versus 12%). In the overall population, central obesity index was a stronger predictor of MetS than insulin sensitivity and low birth weight. When the two groups were considered, central fat depot remained the strongest predictor of MetS, with ISI similarly influencing the probability of MetS in the two groups and birth weight being negatively associated to MetS only in pubertal individuals. Neither FHD nor degree of fatness was a significant predictor of MetS. Conclusion. Simple clinical parameters like increased abdominal adiposity and low birth weight could be useful tools to identify European obese adolescents at risk for metabolic complications.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/257168
spellingShingle Claudia Brufani
Danilo Fintini
Ugo Giordano
Alberto Enrico Tozzi
Fabrizio Barbetti
Marco Cappa
Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
International Journal of Hypertension
title Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
title_full Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
title_fullStr Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
title_full_unstemmed Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
title_short Metabolic Syndrome in Italian Obese Children and Adolescents: Stronger Association with Central Fat Depot than with Insulin Sensitivity and Birth Weight
title_sort metabolic syndrome in italian obese children and adolescents stronger association with central fat depot than with insulin sensitivity and birth weight
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/257168
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