ESPE Abstracts

Background: Child Obesity is a major health problem. It is mainly due to a high diet and low physical activity. In some cases, they may be due to genetic causes. It must be detected and treated precociously due to an increased risk of early onset of diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Objective and hypotheses: Search the frequency, clinical and etiological characteristics of obesity in children and adolescents.

Method: This is a retrospective study of 48 cases of obese children, hospitalized between 1995 and 2014. All patients underwent an examination and a complete physical examination. The exploration was completed by a general and endocrine balance. Depending on the results, a paraclinical exploration was made.

Results: 48 cases were reported. the sex ratio G/F: 2. The mean age was 10±5.8 years for males and 12±1.04 in girls. Obesity is more common among boys age <6 years (50%) and at age between 12 and 18 years (37.5%). Obesity is more common among girls whose age is between 12 and 18 years (58.3%) and between 6 and 12 years (25%). In adolescence, obesity is greater among girls than boys (58.3% vs 37.5%) whereas before the age of rebound weight, it is more important for boys 50% vs 16.66%. 50% of boys and girls have moderate obesity. Severe and morbid obesity are in proportion equal to 25%. The causes are common 60.71%, syndromic obesity 21.43%, endocrine obesity 10.72% and iatrogenic7.14%. Complications are more common in boys 35.71% vs 32.14% (P: 0.01). Visceral and neuropsychiatric complications are predominant.

Conclusion: Aetiological factors of childhood obesity are complex and involve epigenetics and behaviour. Early and éfficace support is based on growth monitoring and prevention by dietary and lifestyle rules.