Obesity and metabolic risks in children.
BACKGROUND
We undertook this study to establish the prevalence of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and high glucose and triglyceride levels in school-age children from Mexico City, as well as to determine how overweight and obesity are related to the other risk factors.


METHODS
The study was a cross-sectional survey comprised of 1819 children (6-13 years of age) attending six elementary schools. Gender, age, weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, and levels of triglycerides and glucose were registered. Percentiles were calculated according to American standards for BMI, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure.


RESULTS
Compared to American references, mean percentiles for waist circumference and BMI were >50, and mean height percentiles were <50. Prevalence of overweight was 22.3 and 23.6% for boys and girls, respectively; obesity, 28 and 21.2%; abdominal obesity, 22.1 and 11.7%; high triglyceride levels, 11.3 and 15.4%; high blood pressure, 4.8 and 5.8%, respectively. Overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity are associated with higher blood pressure and triglyceride levels (odds ratio>1.0, p<0.05). Percentiles for BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure also had significant correlations (r>0.2, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This population of Mexican school-age children was shorter and heavier than their American standards. The prevalence of metabolic risks was similar to those reported in American adolescents in NHANES surveys.
Del-Rio-Navarro
Blanca E
BE
Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
Velazquez-Monroy
Oscar
O
Lara-Esqueda
Agustin
A
Violante-Ortiz
Rafael
R
Fanghanel
Guillermo
G
Perez-Sanchez
Leopoldo
L
Berber
Arturo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008800:Mexico; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides