Prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolically healthy obese versus metabolically unhealthy obese school children

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Abstract

IntroductionChildren with obesity in the absence of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) have been described as metabolically healthy obese (MHO). Children with MHO phenotype has a favorable metabolic profile with normal glucose metabolism, lipids, and blood pressure compared to children with metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotype. This study aimed to compare several parameters related to obesity between these two groups and to examine the predictors associated with the MHO phenotype. MethodsThis study included a cross-sectional baseline data of 193 children with obesity (BMI z-score > +2 SD) aged 8-16 years enrolled in MyBFF@school program, a school-based intervention study conducted between January and December 2014. Metabolic status was defined based on the 2018 consensus-based criteria with MHO children had no CRF (HDL-cholesterol > 1.03 mmol/L, triglycerides <= 1.7 mmol/L, systolic and diastolic blood pressure <= 90(th) percentile, and fasting plasma glucose <= 5.6 mmol/L). Those that did not meet one or more of the above criteria were classified as children with MUO phenotype. ResultsThe prevalence of MHO was 30.1% (95% CI 23.7 - 37.1) among schoolchildren with obesity and more common in younger and prepubertal children. Compared to MUO, children with MHO phenotype had significantly lower BMI, lower waist circumference, lower uric acid, higher adiponectin, and higher apolipoprotein A-1 levels (p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression showed that adiponectin (OR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.68) and apolipoprotein A-1 (OR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.03) were independent predictors for MHO phenotype in this population. ConclusionsMHO phenotype was more common in younger and prepubertal children with obesity. Higher serum levels of adiponectin and apolipoprotein A-1 increased the possibility of schoolchildren with obesity to be classified into MHO phenotype.

Keywords

Obesity, Children, Metabolically healthy obese, Metabolically unhealthy obese, Cardiometabolic risk

Publication Title

Frontiers in Endocrinology

Divisions

fac_med

Funders

Ministry of Health Malaysia [NMRR-13-439-16563]

Volume

13

Publisher

Frontiers Media

Publisher Location

AVENUE DU TRIBUNAL FEDERAL 34, LAUSANNE, CH-1015, SWITZERLAND

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