Características biológicas, familiares y metabólicas de la obesidad infantil y juvenil / Familial and metabolic characteristics of infantile and juvenile obesity

ABSTRACT

Background: Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional disease in people of less than 20 years old. Aim: To report biological, familial and metabolic characteristics in obese children. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of 187 children seen at obesity clinics and that had a complete metabolic study. Results: Ninety five prepuberal and 92 puberal children, aged 8.7ñ2.2 and 12.6ñ2.2 years old respectively, were studied. Body mass index was over 4 standard deviations in 48.4 per cent of prepuberal children and in 39.1 per cent of puberal children. Paternal obesity was twice more prevalent (30.2 per cent) than in the general population. The daily caloric intake and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were within the normal range; nevertheless there was a positive caloric balance due to minimal physical activity. The mean daily fat intake was normal (26.4ñ8.5 and 25.3ñ9.1 per cent of total calories in prepuberal and puberal children respectively). The daily fiber intake was under 70 per cent of recommendation. The total cholesterol was over 200 mg/dl in 26.6 and 23.9 per cent of prepuberal and puberal children. LDL cholesterol was over 130 mg/dl in 27.3 and 26.6 per cent and triacylglycerol was over 150 mg/dl in 16.9 and 25 per cent of prepuberal and puberal children respectively. Basal serum insulin was over 20 uIU/ml in 27.7 and 42.2 per cent of prepuberal and puberal children, respectively. Post glucose serum insulin was over 60 uIU/ml in 40 and 63 per cent of prepuberal and puberal children, respectively. Conclusions: Infantile and juvenile obesity is a chronic disease with a high incidence of metabolic alterations