[Importance of waist circumference measurements when following children with obesity: Serious abnormalities in blood values of Iceandic children with obesity]. / Mikilvægi mittismáls við eftirlit barna með offitu. Alvarleg frávik í blóðgildum hjá íslenskum börnum með offitu.
Laeknabladid
; 101(9): 399-403, 2015 09.
Article
in Is
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26374819
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Childhood obesity is a growing health problem worldwide. Body mass index (BMI) has been used as the main measurement of obesity for years but its quality for children has been questioned. In 2011 the Health School was formed at the Childrens Medical Center at Landspitali University Hospital for treatment of obese children and their families. The aim of this study was to find the best predictor of blood test abnormalities and to get a clear picture of abnormalities in blood values in the group of obese children referred to the Health School.METHODS:
All children referred to the Health School from January 1st 2011 until March 15th 2013 were retrospectively studied (n=181). Information was gathered on height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and available blood variables.RESULTS:
Abnormal blood values were found in 54 cases (47%). Of the children where information was available, four (4%) had Non-Alchoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and 28 (28%) had a raised fasting insulin levels whereof 8 (8%) needed treatment. One child had both NAFLD and raised fasting insulin.CONCLUSION:
Abnormal blood values are common in obese children. Waist circumference appears to have a better predictive value of these abnormalities than BMI-SDS. Waist circumference could be used to screen for children who need physician supervision because of risk of metabolic disorders. Waist circumference adds important information to the risk assessment of obese children. This study emphasises the importance of care givers measuring waist circumference in obese children.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Waist Circumference
/
Pediatric Obesity
/
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
/
Hyperinsulinism
/
Lipids
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
Is
Journal:
Laeknabladid
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article