[Ethnic influence on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an obese pediatric population]

Sociocultural differences in the development of obesity in adolescents in Murcia

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity presents alarming numbers in our country, being even higher in the population of immigrant origin. The main objective was to analyse the excess weight numbers both in native adolescents and in those children of immigrants and to determine the ethnic influence on lifestyle habits that could condition these differences in weight overload.

METHODS

Adolescents from 1st year of Obligatory Secondary Education (E.S.O.) participated; somatometry was determined and classified according to BMI (with WHO references) and parental origin. Parents completed the survey on healthy habits (ENHASA). An analysis of variance was performed for each of the 4 dimensions of the questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 416 adolescents participated (12.8±0.62 years). Excess weight was detected in 41.2% of the participants, with significant differences between groups (p 0.018): 36.7% in Spanish, 42.9% in North Africa and 58.2% in South America. The ANOVA analysis showed differences in the section "physical activity" (p 0.003), highlighting the maximum disparity in the performance of extracurricular sports activities, with a lower score in both non-native groups.

CONCLUSION

We found significant differences according to ethnic origin in the number of overweight children and the amount of physical activity they do; South American adolescents are the most sedentary. We must design interventions that guarantee the access of all adolescents to sports activities to prevent the development of obesity.

Preventing childhood obesity in Latin America: an agenda for regional research and strategic partnerships

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in Latin America poses a major public health challenge to the region. In response, many countries are implementing obesity prevention programmes aimed at modifying known risk factors. However, the limited scientific evidence inhibits the development and implementation of novel, effective interventions across the region. To address these gaps, the NIH Fogarty International Center convened a workshop of researchers, policymakers, programme implementers and public health advocates who are actively engaged in the region to prevent childhood obesity. Major aims of the meeting were to define the current status of childhood obesity, identify the scientific gaps in our understanding of the epidemic, point out the barriers and opportunities for research and outline a plan for capacity building in the region in the area of childhood obesity. This series of articles reflects the key outcome of the meeting and offers an analysis of the knowledge translation needed for evidence-based policy initiatives, a review of the research agenda and an evaluation of research capacity in the region. The goal of the papers is to inform the development of multidisciplinary and multisector research collaborations, which are essential to the implementation of successful childhood obesity prevention strategies in the region.

Aerobic capacity and future cardiovascular risk in Indian community from a low-income area in Cauca, Colombia

Background

Several studies indicates that children’s aerobic capacity levels are predictors of the future risk of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the proportion of subjects whose aerobic capacity is indicative of future cardiovascular risk in Indian-Nasa community from a low-income area in Cauca, Colombia.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of morphological component (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, and body fat percent [BF%]), and the cardiorespiratory component (course-navette 20 m, shuttle run test and estimation of maximal oxygen consumption by indirect VO₂max) from 576 participants (319 boys and 257 girls) aged 10 to 17.9 years, using the standardized FUPRECOL test battery.

Results

We showed that the boys performed better than the girls in cardiorespiratory fitness. The proportion of subjects with an aerobic capacity indicative of future cardiovascular risk was 7.3%. By sex, 3.8% of boys and 11.7% of girls (X²p = 0.001) displayed an unhealthy aerobic capacity in this study.

Conclusion

The findings of this study that provide the first data on aerobic capacity health for Colombian Nasa Indian children and adolescents aged 10–17.9 years. Although the known loss of aerobic capacity is a serious consequence of the future risk of non-communicable diseases, the deterioration of physical fitness deserves increased attention among indigenous population.

Beta-cell function and insulin resistance among Peruvian adolescents with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To characterize and compare the beta-cell function and insulin resistance among Peruvian adolescents with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their non-diabetic, overweight and lean peers.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 54 adolescents aged 10-19 years, distributed in three sex- and age-matched groups (n = 18): (i) adolescents with T2D; (ii) overweight adolescents without T2D; and (iii) lean adolescents without T2D, at the Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition Research Center in Lima, Peru. Fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glycated hemoglobin were measured for all participants. In addition, a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, 1.75 mg of glucose/kg body weight) was performed, during which glucose and C-peptide were quantified. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-B) were derived for all participants, and beta-cell function was further examined by the area under the curve (AUC) of C-peptide.

RESULTS

The median HOMA-IR score was higher in adolescents with T2D compared to lean adolescents (6.1 vs. 2.1; p = 0.002), but was not different from that of overweight adolescents (6.1 vs. 4.0; p = 0.322). The median HOMA-B was higher in overweight adolescents than in lean adolescents (256.9 vs. 134.2; p = 0.015), and adolescents with T2D (256.9 vs. 119.8; p = 0.011). The mean AUC of glucose in adolescents with T2D was 1.8-fold higher than that of overweight adolescents, and 1.9-fold higher than that of lean adolescents (p < 0.001). Although the median AUC of C-peptide in adolescents with T2D was lower than that of overweight and lean adolescents, this difference was not statistically significant (230.7 vs. 336.6 vs. 267.3 nmol/l120 min, respectively; p = 0.215).

CONCLUSION

Among Peruvian adolescents with T2D, insulin resistance is the most prominent characteristic, rather than beta-cell dysfunction.