Identification of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and adolescence

Association of legumes and nuts consumption with metabolic health status in Iranian overweight and obese adolescents

Limited data are available on the association of legumes and nuts consumption with health status in pediatrics. So, we assessed the relation of legumes and nuts intake with metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents. A random sample of overweight/obese adolescents aged 12 to 18 years was included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were gathered using a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We measured metabolic indices including blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic and anthropometrics indices. Two strategies were used for classification of adolescents to metabolically healthy obese (MHO) or unhealthy obese (MUO): International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and combination of IDF with Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Information on 203 overweight/obese adolescents (50.2% girls and 49.8% boys) with an average age of 13.98 (± 1.61) years and a mean weight of 73.48 (± 11.60) kg/m² was evaluated. Based on the IDF and IDF/HOMA-IR definition, higher consumption of legumes and nuts consumption was related to a 66% and 61% decreased odds of MUO in crude model (OR = 0.34, 95%CI 0.17-0.69), (OR = 0.39, 95%CI 0.19-0.80); but in fully-adjusted model, these relations disappeared. After adjustment for potential cofounders, an inverse association was found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of hyperglycemia (OR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.16-0.78). Moreover, although inverse significant associations were found between legumes and nuts consumption and odds of MUO in girls and overweight subjects in crude models, these associations disappeared after adjustment for all confounders. After taking potential confounders into account, no significant association was found between consumption of legumes and nuts and MUO in Iranian adolescents. The findings should be affirmed by further prospective studies.

Long-term outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgery in adolescents with severe obesity with a follow-up of at least 5 years: A systematic review

The practice of metabolic and bariatric surgery for adolescents with severe obesity has been increasing, and evidence of the outcomes in the long term remains unclear. The aim of this study was to review and analyze the outcomes of this therapy in adolescents with a follow-up ≥5 years. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched. Inclusion criteria were 10- to < 20-year-old adolescents, 5 years minimum of follow-up, and a retention rate ≥70% at 5 years of follow-up. Adiposity indicators outcomes, co-morbidity remission, and complications were analyzed. A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Surgeries performed included gastric bypass, gastric band, and sleeve gastrectomy. The age of the participants ranged from 13 to 17 years. The longest follow-up after intervention was 156 months. Mean body mass index at baseline and follow-up was 47 and 32.4 kg/m 2 , respectively. Most of the studies reported weight regain within 1 to 12 years of follow-up. Remission rate of co-morbidities was 75% for dyslipidemia, 78% for musculoskeletal problems, 85% for hypertension, and 85% for type 2 diabetes. Not all studies stated that they were looking for all complications. Iron deficiency and anemia were high, ranging from 30% to 70% and 16% to 50%, respectively. The review indicates that there is low to moderate evidence that metabolic and bariatric surgery in adolescents with severe obesity after 5 years of follow-up results in substantial reduction in body mass index, and very low to low evidence in the resolution of related co-morbidities. Although long-term complications were inadequately reported or nonreported, a high prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia was found. Because maternal anemia might be implicated in deleterious effects for offspring, monitoring female patients for anemia after metabolic and bariatric surgery is strongly recommended. Further high-quality studies with long-term follow-up are warranted to assess related co-morbidities and long-term complications.

A descriptive study of biological and psychosocial factors associated with body mass index for age, in adolescents attending an outpatient department at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital

Objective

To describe biological and psychosocial factors associated with body mass index (BMI) for age in adolescents attending an outpatient department at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.

Methods

A total of 50 adolescents participated in a convenience sampling research study. BMIs were calculated using their weights and heights to distinguish different weight categories based on the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. Based on their BMIs, participants were categorised as underweight, normal body weight, overweight and obese. The association between the BMIs of the biological parents and their adolescent children was investigated using the Fisher's exact test. The data collection included adolescents' demographic information, psychiatric diagnosis, psychiatric medication, nutritional intake, eating habits and the intensity of physical activity such as sports, leisure and sedentary behaviour.

Setting

The study was conducted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital's adolescents outpatient department.

Results

Of the participants, 72% were males. Forty-eight per cent of all the adolescents had a normal BMI, mostly of black African descent. When comparing the adolescents' BMI with that of their biological mothers, 50% of those who were obese also had mothers who were mostly obese (53.8%). The Fisher's exact test indicated a statistically significant association between the BMI categories of mothers and those of their adolescent children (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.032). Despite the above association, no significant association could be found regarding their nutritional intake and eating habits. Also, no significant association was found between the adolescents' BMIs and the use of psychotropic medication, as compared with other previous studies. Furthermore, no association could be found between adolescents' BMI categories and the level of intensity of physical activity such as sports and leisure activities or sedentary behaviours.

Conclusion

This study supports previous findings that a significant association exists between maternal and childhood obesity. The association between BMI and psychotropic medication, nutritional intake and eating habits, and level of physical activity could not be confirmed in our study. The study results were limited by the small sample size and the convenience sampling method. Although this was only a descriptive study, it highlighted the complexity of biological and psychosocial factors involved in weight gain. Further studies are needed to explore the interplay of physical and environmental risk factors for childhood obesity, as well as to ensure early identification and education of patients and their families to prevent development of obesity.

Anemia and Its Effect on Cardiovascular Findings in Obese Adolescents

Objective

We assessed the effect of anemia on cardiovascular findings in obese adolescents.

Materials and Methods

We studied 29 anemic and 33 nonanemic obese adolescents, and 33 nonobese healthy adolescents. These three groups were investigated for clinical and laboratory features of anemia and obesity. Echocardiography was used to examine cardiac functions.

Results

The anemia was mild (mean hemoglobin: 11.67±0.79g/dL), ferritin level was significantly low, and C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were significantly high in anemic obese patients. Increased cardiac pulse and echocardiographic findings, which may be indicative of early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, were present in these patients.

Conclusion

Anemia may develop due to iron deficiency and chronic inflammation in obese adolescents. Even mild anemia may cause increased heart rate and affect left ventricular diastolic functions. Diet programs for obese children should be carefully planned to avoid iron deficiency anemia, which may worsen the cardiac events in long-term follow-up.

The associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness in obese and non-obese schoolchildren: A possible predictor for cardiovascular diseases

Background

Increased carotid intima-media thickness is one of the predictors of future cardiovascular diseases. However, it is still unknown which body composition parameter or anthropometric measure is the best predictor for carotid intima-media thickness change among children and young adolescents.

Objective

To investigate the associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness among a group of obese and normal bodyweight schoolchildren.

Methods

A total of 125 schoolchildren (10–15 years) were recruited from four public schools in Amman, Jordan. Of them, 60 (29 boys and 31 girls) were normal bodyweight students and 65 (35 boys and 30 girls) were obese students. Anthropometric measures, fat mass and fat-free mass were determined. Carotid intima-media thickness of the common artery was measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound.

Results

Compared to normal bodyweight students, obese participants exhibited greater carotid intima-media thickness (mm) (0.45 ± 0.10 vs. 0.38 ± 0.08, p = 0.002) and fat-free mass (kg) (48.01 ± 11.39 vs. 32.65 ±7.65, p < 0.001). Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis revealed significant associations ( p≤0.05) between mean carotid intima-media thickness and body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass and fat-free mass. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that waist circumference was the only measure that was statistically significant ( p ≤ 0.05) with mean carotid intima-media thickness (r2 = 0.129, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Obesity is related to greater carotid intima-media thickness and other cardiovascular risk factors among schoolchildren. Waist circumference is more sensitive in predicting increased carotid intima-media thickness than other body composition or anthropometric measures. Waist circumference measurement in the analysis of future studies assessing the cardiovascular risk among obese children is warranted.

Relation of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors between Parents and Children

OBJECTIVES

To explore the relations of parent-child cardiometabolic risk factors and assess the influence of adiposity on these associations.

STUDY DESIGN

Associations of adiposity, blood pressure (BP), lipids, fasting insulin and glucose, and a risk factor cluster score (CS) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 179 parents and their children (6-18 years, N = 255). Insulin resistance was assessed by euglycemic clamp in parents and children aged 10 years or older. Metabolic syndrome in parents was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. CSs of the risk factors were created based on age-specific z-scores. Analyses included Pearson correlation and linear regression, adjusted for parent and child age, sex, race, and body mass index (BMI), accounting for within-family correlation.

RESULTS

We found positive parent-child correlations for measures of adiposity (BMI, BMI percentile, waist, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat; r = 0.22-0.34, all P ≤ .003), systolic BP (r = 0.20, P = .002), total cholesterol (r = 0.39, P < .001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.34, P < .001), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.26, P < .001), triglycerides (r = 0.19, P = .01), and insulin sensitivity (r = 0.22, P = .02) as well as CSs (r = 0.15, P = .02). After adjustment for BMI all parent-child correlations, except systolic BP, remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Although adiposity is strongly correlated between parents and children, many cardiometabolic risk factors correlate independent of parent and child BMI. Adverse parental cardiometabolic profiles may identify at-risk children independent of the child's adiposity status.

Obesity, fatty liver disease and intestinal microbiota

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disorder that is increasing in prevalence with the worldwide epidemic of obesity. NAFLD is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. The term NAFLD describes a spectrum of liver pathology ranges from simple steatosis to steatosis with inflammation nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and even cirrhosis. Metabolic syndrome and NAFLD also predict hepatocellular carcinoma. Many genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to contribute to the development of obesity and NAFLD, but the exact mechanisms are not known. Intestinal ecosystem contains trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, Archaea, yeasts and viruses. Several studies support the relationship between the intestinal microbial changes and obesity and also its complications, including insulin resistance and NAFLD. Given that the gut and liver are connected by the portal venous system, it makes the liver more vulnerable to translocation of bacteria, bacterial products, endotoxins or secreted cytokines. Altered intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) may stimulate hepatic fat deposition through several mechanisms: regulation of gut permeability, increasing low-grade inflammation, modulation of dietary choline metabolism, regulation of bile acid metabolism and producing endogenous ethanol. Regulation of intestinal microbial ecosystem by diet modifications or by using probiotics and prebiotics as a treatment for obesity and its complications might be the issue of further investigations.

Early myocardial deformation changes in hypercholesterolemic and obese children and adolescents: a 2D and 3D speckle tracking echocardiography study

Dyslipidemia and obesity are considered strong risk factors for premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and increased morbidity and mortality and may have a negative impact on myocardial function.Our purpose was to assess the presence of early myocardial deformation abnormalities in dyslipidemic children free from other cardiovascular risk factors, using 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) and 3-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE).We studied 80 consecutive nonselected patients (6-18 years of age) with hypercholesterolemia (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol levels >95th percentile for age and sex). Forty of them had normal weight and 40 were obese (body mass index >95th percentile for age and sex). Forty healthy age-matched children were selected as controls. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strains were calculated by 2DSTE and 3DSTE. Global area strain (GAS) was calculated by 3DSTE as percentage of variation in surface area defined by the longitudinal and circumferential strain vectors. Right ventricular (RV) global and free-wall longitudinal strain and LV and RV diastolic strain rate parameters were obtained. Data analysis was performed offline.LV global longitudinal strain and GAS were lower in normal-weight and obese dyslipidemic children compared with normal controls and reduced in obese patients compared with normal-weight dyslipidemic children. LV early diastolic strain rate was lower compared with normals. RV global and free-wall longitudinal strain was significantly reduced in obese patients when compared with the control group. A significant inverse correlation was found between LV strain, LDL cholesterol levels, and body mass index.2DSTE and 3DSTE show LV longitudinal strain and GAS changes in dyslipidemic children and adolescents free from other cardiovascular risk factors or structural cardiac abnormalities. Obesity causes an additive adverse effect on LV strain parameters and RV strain impairment.

Lifestyle Is the Medicine, Culture Is the Spoon

We have known now for a span of decades that the leading causes of premature death and chronic disease in the United States and increasingly around the world are behavioral factors under our potential control. We have as well consistent evidence from diverse sources indicating that amelioration of a short list of such factors, with an emphasis on dietary pattern, physical activity, and tobacco use, can slash rates of chronic disease and premature death alike. But choices people make are governed ultimately by choices people have. In an obesigenic and morbidigenic environment that conspires mightily against healthful living, salutary behavior change is all too often forestalled. Constructive and compassionate guidance from clinicians can help confront this challenge, and the case is made that lifestyle in medicine is of real value. But the case is also made that lifestyle is not fundamentally a clinical issue but a cultural one. For the full promise of lifestyle medicine to be realized, it must be lifestyle as medicine—and spoons full of cultural change will be required to make that medicine go down.