ASSESSMENT OF METABOLIC RISK FACTORS IN OBESE CHILDREN
Keywords:
obesity, children, metabolic risk factors, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, insulin resistance, HOMA-IR, body mass index.Abstract
Obesity represents a severe health threat to children and adolescents, acting as a primary risk factor for conditions such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and impaired glucose tolerance. To better understand the formation of cardiometabolic phenotypes and associated risks, a study was conducted involving 246 children aged 7 to 18 years. The participants were divided into a main group of 156 overweight and obese children and a control group of 90 normal-weight children based on their body mass index standard deviation (BMI Z-score). Biochemical analyses revealed significant pathological changes in the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of the overweight and obese group. Specifically, elevated levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol were observed in 25% and 34.62% of these children, respectively, while protective high-density lipoproteins (HDL) decreased in 23.94% of the patients. Furthermore, 12.18% of the main group exhibited pathologically high basal blood glucose levels, and a significantly higher HOMA-IR index confirmed the early development of insulin resistance. The study also established a direct positive correlation between lipid profile disruptions and anthropometric indicators like BMI, overall body weight, and waist circumference. Ultimately, 71.8% of the examined overweight and obese children were found to possess at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, classifying them within the "metabolically unhealthy obesity" phenotype. These findings highlight that early detection of such metabolic changes in overweight children is crucial for predicting the individual risk of future cardiometabolic complications and implementing timely medical interventions.
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