The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity

PurposeThe aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young people involves a complex interplay between lifestyle, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, cardiometabolic paramet...

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Main Authors: Mattia D’Alleva, Stefano Lazzer, Maria De Martino, Lara Mari, Enrico Rejc, Simone Zaccaron, Jacopo Stafuzza, Miriam Isola, Adele Bondesan, Diana Caroli, Francesca Frigerio, Laura Abbruzzese, Enrica Ventura, Alessandro Sartorio
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1624696/full
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author Mattia D’Alleva
Mattia D’Alleva
Stefano Lazzer
Stefano Lazzer
Maria De Martino
Lara Mari
Lara Mari
Enrico Rejc
Enrico Rejc
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Jacopo Stafuzza
Jacopo Stafuzza
Miriam Isola
Adele Bondesan
Diana Caroli
Francesca Frigerio
Laura Abbruzzese
Enrica Ventura
Alessandro Sartorio
author_facet Mattia D’Alleva
Mattia D’Alleva
Stefano Lazzer
Stefano Lazzer
Maria De Martino
Lara Mari
Lara Mari
Enrico Rejc
Enrico Rejc
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Jacopo Stafuzza
Jacopo Stafuzza
Miriam Isola
Adele Bondesan
Diana Caroli
Francesca Frigerio
Laura Abbruzzese
Enrica Ventura
Alessandro Sartorio
author_sort Mattia D’Alleva
collection DOAJ
description PurposeThe aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young people involves a complex interplay between lifestyle, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, cardiometabolic parameters and resting substrate metabolism in the development of MetS in severely adolescents with obesity.MethodsSeven hundred and thirty adolescents with obesity (mean age: 14.6 ± 2.1 years, BMI > 97th percentile for gender and age) were included in this study. Body composition analysis was obtained using tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), while resting substrate oxidation was measured using an indirect calorimeter.ResultsMetS was present in 27% of the participants. Compared to those without MetS, adolescents with MetS had significantly higher body mass (+15 kg, p < 0.001), fat-free mass (FFM; +6 kg, p < 0.001), fat mass (+9 kg, p < 0.001), carbohydrate oxidation at rest (CHO; +0.02 g·min−1, p = 0.015), and Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR; +0.8, p < 0.001). In adjusted-univariate logistic regression, HOMA-IR (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.12–1.34, p < 0.001) was associated with higher odds of MetS. Conversely, higher FFM percentage (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93–0.99, p = 0.003) and HDL cholesterol levels (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.81–0.86, p = 0.003) were protective.ConclusionIn adolescents with severe obesity, resting carbohydrate oxidation and HOMA-IR emerged as independent risk factors for MetS, offering additional insight beyond conventional anthropometric and lipid indicators. Conversely, higher FFM and HDL cholesterol levels appeared to exert a protective effect. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating metabolic and body composition variables into MetS risk models and support the promotion of targeted interventions, such as endurance and resistance training, to address modifiable risk factors and reduce the likelihood of developing MetS.
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spelling doaj-art-d3c934f527764780ac1468b201d1affe2025-08-20T03:09:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-07-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16246961624696The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesityMattia D’Alleva0Mattia D’Alleva1Stefano Lazzer2Stefano Lazzer3Maria De Martino4Lara Mari5Lara Mari6Enrico Rejc7Enrico Rejc8Simone Zaccaron9Simone Zaccaron10Simone Zaccaron11Jacopo Stafuzza12Jacopo Stafuzza13Miriam Isola14Adele Bondesan15Diana Caroli16Francesca Frigerio17Laura Abbruzzese18Enrica Ventura19Alessandro Sartorio20Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalySchool of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyDivision of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyDivision of Eating and Nutrition Disorders, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo, ItalyPurposeThe aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young people involves a complex interplay between lifestyle, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, cardiometabolic parameters and resting substrate metabolism in the development of MetS in severely adolescents with obesity.MethodsSeven hundred and thirty adolescents with obesity (mean age: 14.6 ± 2.1 years, BMI > 97th percentile for gender and age) were included in this study. Body composition analysis was obtained using tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), while resting substrate oxidation was measured using an indirect calorimeter.ResultsMetS was present in 27% of the participants. Compared to those without MetS, adolescents with MetS had significantly higher body mass (+15 kg, p < 0.001), fat-free mass (FFM; +6 kg, p < 0.001), fat mass (+9 kg, p < 0.001), carbohydrate oxidation at rest (CHO; +0.02 g·min−1, p = 0.015), and Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR; +0.8, p < 0.001). In adjusted-univariate logistic regression, HOMA-IR (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.12–1.34, p < 0.001) was associated with higher odds of MetS. Conversely, higher FFM percentage (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93–0.99, p = 0.003) and HDL cholesterol levels (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.81–0.86, p = 0.003) were protective.ConclusionIn adolescents with severe obesity, resting carbohydrate oxidation and HOMA-IR emerged as independent risk factors for MetS, offering additional insight beyond conventional anthropometric and lipid indicators. Conversely, higher FFM and HDL cholesterol levels appeared to exert a protective effect. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating metabolic and body composition variables into MetS risk models and support the promotion of targeted interventions, such as endurance and resistance training, to address modifiable risk factors and reduce the likelihood of developing MetS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1624696/fullobesitymetabolic syndromerespiratory quotientcardiometabolic indexfat-free mass
spellingShingle Mattia D’Alleva
Mattia D’Alleva
Stefano Lazzer
Stefano Lazzer
Maria De Martino
Lara Mari
Lara Mari
Enrico Rejc
Enrico Rejc
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Simone Zaccaron
Jacopo Stafuzza
Jacopo Stafuzza
Miriam Isola
Adele Bondesan
Diana Caroli
Francesca Frigerio
Laura Abbruzzese
Enrica Ventura
Alessandro Sartorio
The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
Frontiers in Nutrition
obesity
metabolic syndrome
respiratory quotient
cardiometabolic index
fat-free mass
title The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
title_full The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
title_fullStr The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
title_full_unstemmed The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
title_short The role of body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
title_sort role of body composition cardiometabolic parameters and resting substrate oxidation in protecting against metabolic syndrome in adolescents with obesity
topic obesity
metabolic syndrome
respiratory quotient
cardiometabolic index
fat-free mass
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1624696/full
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