Background and aims: Worldwide, throughout one generation the prevalence of obesity in children doubled. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of large waist circumference (≥95thpercentile) and at least two of the following: high triglyceride level (≥150 mg/dl), reduced HDL-cholesterol (≤40 mg/dl), increased blood pressure (≥95thpercentile), elevated fasting blood sugar (≥100mg/dl). The authors aimed to evaluate for metabolic syndrome a group of overweight/obese children.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study that included overweight (BMI 85th to 95th percentile) or obese (BMI ≥95th percentile) 6-18 years old children. The patients were enrolled in the Pediatrics Department of “Grigore Alexandrescu” Children’s Hospital where they were admitted for unrelated pathology. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated to set the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
Results: Ninety one patients were enrolled (64.8% obese). The mean age was 11 years 9 months, the sex ratio M/F=1.27/1, 67% came from urban areas. All patients had waist circumference ≥95thpercentile. High blood pressure was diagnosed in 16.5% (80% of them being obese). 19.7% had high serum triglycerides and 25.3% low HDL-cholesterol levels. Increased blood glucose was found in 27.5%. More than half of the group (56%) fulfilled two criteria for metabolic syndrome and one quarter (26%) three criteria, data similar to the literature.
Conclusions: Obesity is a disease that generates complications from a young age. The number of overweight/obese children with metabolic syndrome is alarmingly high. Education and medical advice should target nutrition, normal growth and a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent an “epidemic” of early onset cardiovascular disease.

EARLY ONSET METABOLIC SYNDROME IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE CHILDREN – AN INCREASING CAUSE FOR CONCERN