title: Ethnicity and comorbidities in an overweight and obese multiethnic childhood cohort in Berlin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to analyse the association between ethnicity, elevated metabolic parameters and metabolic syndrome (MS) in a multiethnic cohort of overweight to obese children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 1053 patients, standard deviation of body mass index (BMI-SDS) was calculated and metabolic parameters (fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment-IR, lipids, blood pressure) were measured. MS was defined by WHO criteria. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Adjusted differences in BMI-SDS and metabolic parameters between different migration groups were assessed with linear regression models. The risk for MS was calculated with multiple logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight per cent of the children were German, 25% Turkish and 27% had another ethnicity. Concerning weight status, 23% are overweight, 31% obese and 46% extremely obese with higher rates among the immigrant population. Multivariable models indicate significant associations between elevated metabolic parameters and higher BMI-SDS values. Overall prevalence of MS was 32.3%. MS was detected significantly more often among Turkish patients (40.4%) compared to Germans (27.3%; p=0.02). Logistic regression analysis showed a greater risk for MS with older age (OR=1.09; p=0.003) and Turkish ethnicity (OR=1.62; p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly all patients had symptoms of MS, and 40% had MS showing that this highly health-threatening condition is quite common. Therefore, effective therapy and prevention efforts must be developed for this high risk group. More migration-specific research regarding insulin resistance, MS and Type 2 DM is needed.
authors.affiliation: Charité Children's Hospital, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dannemann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rücker
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krude
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babitsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001604:Berlin; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology