ESPE Abstracts

Background: The global prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity has surged since 1980, reaching 107.7 million cases in 2015. Notably, 23% of children in developed countries are overweight or obese. The Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) emerges as a novel, robust biomarker, closely linked to obesity, and serves as a reliable indicator of dyslipidemia and associated conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: This study aim ed to explore the prevalence of distinct Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) components and plasmaAIP among obese children and adolescents, and to evaluate their anthropometric measures in comparison to their parents, thereby considering genetic and environmental influences

Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical profiles of 91 randomly selected obese children and young adolescents (mean age: 10.5 ± 2.7 years) were meticulously analyzed. This cohort attended the Pediatric Clinic of Hamad Medical Center (HGH) in Doha (Qatar) between January 2018 and December 2020. Recorded data encompassed age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as well as key biochemical parameters such as lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (A1C), and alanine transferase (ALT) levels, which were subsequently compared to age-matched normative values

Results: Among mothers, 44% were overweight (BMI >25 < 30 kg/m²), while 52.7% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m²; range 24.5 - 51.5 kg/m²). Similarly, 18% of fathers were overweight, while 64% were obese (range 21.5 - 51.2 kg/m²). A significant correlation emerged between the BMI of obese children and young adolescents and their maternal BMI (r: 0.34, P = 0.01), although not with paternal BMI. Obese children exhibited heightened prevalence rates of dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Applying modified adult MetS criteria, MetS was evident in 30.2% of this obese cohort, with 76.7% displaying elevated AIP.

Conclusion: The 30% prevalence of MetS among our obese, nondiabetic children and young adolescents underscores the pressing need for early detection and nationwide preventive strategies. Moreover, the notable 76.7% occurrence of high AIP emphasizes the augmented risk of future cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), necessitating early interventions to normalize atherogenic lipemia. The strong relationship between parental overweight and child obesity underscores the complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors