Demographic, anthropometric and laboratory characteristics in obese children

Abstract

Introduction. The incidence of obesity reached alarming rated in pediatric population resulting in a global public health problem. The aim of our study consists of the assessment of anthropometric and laboratory parameters in obese children. Material and method. We performed a retrospective observational study on 155 children, with the age between 5 and 17 years admitted in the Pediatrics Clinic 1 Tg. Mures, who were divided according to BMI in: group I – 65 children with a BMI over percentile (P) 95; group II – 90 children with normal BMI, between P5 and P85. Results. The mean age of the obese children was significantly higher as compared to normal weight ones (p = 0.0007). Parental weight was significantly higher in obese children in comparison to normal weight ones (p = 0.0074, p = 0.0062). Anthropometric parameters had significantly higher values in group I as compared to group II (p < 0.0001). Most of CBC parameters had significantly higher levels in children with obesity, except for hemoglobin. T Chol, LDL and TG levels were also significantly higher in obese children as compared to those from control group (p = 0.0229 / p = 0.0049 / p = 0.0058), while HDL was significantly higher in normal weight children (p = 0.0419). AST and ALT presented significantly elevated levels in case of group I (p = 0.0045 / p < 0.0001). Conclusions. The incidence of obesity in small ages is increasing. Anthropometric and laboratory parameters might represent accurate indicators of obesity in children.

Keywords

• obese children
• anthropometric parameters
• laboratory parameters