Definable somatic disorders in overweight children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the frequencies and clinical presentation of definable somatic disorders in children who are overweight.


METHODS
We assessed prospectively 1405 children aged 4 to 16 years who were overweight and came to our specialized clinic for endocrinology and obesity with a standardized diagnostic procedure. In a subgroup of 223 children, we sought mutations in the melanocortin-4-receptor gene (MC4R).


RESULTS
Endocrine or syndromal disorders were diagnosed in 13 children (<1%; 4 with hypothyroidism, 1 with Cushing's syndrome, 1 with growth hormone deficiency, 2 with pseudohypoparathyroidism, 1 with pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism, 2 with Prader-Willi syndrome, 1 with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, 1 with Klinefelter syndrome). A total of 85% of these children had short stature, in marked contrast to only 0.6% of the other children. Moderately elevated thyrotropin and cortisol concentrations were observed in 4% and 5%, respectively, of all children. Non-synonymous MC4R mutations were found in 6% of the children.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to MC4R mutations, endocrine and clinically identifiable syndromal disorders were rare in children who were overweight and always associated with further symptoms. All children who are overweight with short stature or reduced growth velocity should be carefully examined for endocrine or syndromal disorders. A general screening with laboratory measurements cannot be recommended because thyrotropin and cortisol levels are frequently moderately elevated in children who are overweight, thus entailing further superfluous diagnostic procedures.
Reinehr
Thomas
T
Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany. T.Reinehr@kinderklinik-datteln.de
Hinney
Anke
A
de Sousa
Gideon
G
Austrup
Frank
F
Hebebrand
Johannes
J
Andler
Werner
W
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D050177:Overweight; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone