[Biological, familial and metabolic characteristics of infantile and juvenile obesity].
BACKGROUND
Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional disease in people of less than 20 years old.


OBJECTIVE
To report biological, familial and metabolic characteristics in obese children.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 187 children seen at obesity clinics and that had a complete metabolic study.


RESULTS
Ninety five prepuberal and 92 puberal children, aged 8.7 +/- 2.2 and 12.6 +/- 2.2 years old respectively, were studied. Body mass index was over 4 standard deviations in 48.4% of prepuberal children and in 39.1% of puberal children. Paternal obesity was twice more prevalent (30.2%) than in the general population. The daily caloric intake and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were within the normal range; nevertheless there was a positive caloric balance due to minimal physical activity. The mean daily fat intake was normal (26.4 +/- 8.5 and 25.3 +/- 9.1% of total calories in prepuberal and puberal children respectively). The daily fiber intake was under 70% of recommendation. The total cholesterol was over 200 mg/dl in 26.6 and 23.9% of prepuberal and puberal children. LDL cholesterol was over 130 mg/dl in 27.3 and 26.6% and triacylglycerol was over 150 mg/dl in 16.9 and 25% of prepuberal and puberal children respectively. Basal serum insulin was over 20 uIU/ml in 27.7 and 42.2% of prepuberal and puberal children, respectively. Post glucose serum insulin was over 60 uIU/ml in 40 and 63% of prepuberal and puberal children, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Infantile and juvenile obesity is a chronic disease with a high incidence of metabolic alterations.
Burrows
R
R
Area de Nutrición Humana y Clínica, INTA, Universidad de Chile y Unidad de Endocrinología, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Carabineros del General Humberto Arriagada, Santiago de Chile. rburrows@uec.inta.uchile.cl
Gattas
V
V
Leiva
L
L
Barrera
G
G
Burgueño
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000453:epidemiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011627:Puberty
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
Características biológicas, familiares y metabólicas de la obesidad infantil y juvenil.