A Prospective Study of Weight and Metabolic Syndrome in Young Hispanic Children.
OBJECTIVE: Examine weight in young Hispanic children over a two-year period; investigate the relationships among overweight, physical activity, caloric intake, and family history in the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Forty-seven children (ages 5-8) from diverse Hispanic backgrounds recruited from elementary schools were evaluated. Laboratory analyses, anthropometric data, and measures of physical activity and caloric intake were included. RESULTS: The majority of the children were overweight at baseline (66%) and at follow-up (72%). Children who were overweight at baseline were more likely to exhibit MS at follow-up than were those who were not overweight at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight appears to be an independent predictor of MS among Hispanic children.
Patiño-Fernández
Anna Maria
AM
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA 33136.
Delamater
Alan M
AM
Sanders
Lee
L
Brito
Arturo
A
Goldberg
Ronald
R