ESPE Abstracts

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite the obesity epidemics, the incidence of childhood T2DM is not increased.Objective and hypotheses: To assess the β-cell reserve expressed as an oral glucose disposition index (GDIo), an independent predictor of developing T2DM.Method: A total of 80 adolescents (61.3% girls), aged from 10.0 to 17.6 years (mean age 13.59±2.34 y...

Background: Recently childhood obesity shows trends of lowering age at start. Preschool children are still very physically active. A possible association between total and abdominal obesity and metabolic risk at preschool age could be of value for preventive measures.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the relationship between body composition and some metabolic risk factors at preschool age.Method: A total of 40 (50% boys) he...

Background: Since its discovery in 2012 the ‘browining’ adipokine irisin is known to lead to increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. Studies in children are scarce, with results similar to most studies in adults.Objective and hypotheses: To establish a link between total and abdominal fat mass, physical activity and irisin in preschool age.Method: Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) of 40 healthy pre-puber...

Background: Evidence associates obesity with glomerular hyperperfusion. Concurrent inflammation, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance represent further established risks to renal health in both children and adults.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the relationship between childhood obesity and risk of renal impairment.Method: A total of 114 (38.6% boys) obese according to the IOTF reference but otherwise health...

Background: Many children still miss the early recognition of their stature problems due to inefficient screening strategies.Objective and hypotheses: To assess stature deviations referral through recruiting general practitioners (GPs) and providing them with tools for easier anthropometric data assessment and enhanced access to the Paediatric Endocrinologist.Method: Thirty-one general practitioners with a total of 23 058 patients ...

Background: Waist circumference (WC) reflects the fat distribution and the degree of central adiposity in children, which is specifically associated with cardiovascular risk factors and useful as a component of metabolic syndrome definition in children.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the distribution of WC measures among preschool children aged 3.5–5.5 years from six European countries.Method: Cross-sectional study of a ...

Background: Childhood obesity is a serious health problem, related to an increased risk of adult morbidity and mortality. Evidence indicates that central adiposity increases this risk to a higher degree compared to the general obesity indices.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the distribution of anthropometric obesity indices among preschool children aged 3.5–5.5 years, from six European countries, and to examine their associations with certain ...

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic condition associated with feeding difficulties, hypotonia, developmental delay in infancy; hyperphagia leading to extreme obesity, growth failure and behavioral problems in childhood. Coeliac disease (CD), is an autoimmune disease characterized by gluten intolerance and a variety of symptoms most commonly diarrhea or constipation and failure to thrive. In PWS the challenge is to optimize growth while avoiding obesi...

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a possible candidate gene that may influence both body fatness and blood pressure. Although several genetic studies have been conducted in adults, relatively few studies have examined the contribution of ACE candidate genes for development of the obesity-hypertension phenotype early in life.Aim: To screen Egyptian obese children and adolescents for insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the gene encodi...

Introduction: Hypothalamus is an important regulator of sleep onset, sleep maintenance and wakefulness as well as appetite control. Thus, hypothalamic damage can lead to both sleep dysregulation and severe morbid obesity. So, sleep apnea may be more prevalent and severe in obesity due to hypothalamic damage in comparison to exogenous obesity.Aim: We aim to compare frequency and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with hypothalamic and e...