The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
In the context of present epidemic of childhood obesity, we aimed to find the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in a cohort of obese children.


METHODS
Retrospective chart analysis of 700 obese children was done for their anthropometric and biochemical investigations.


RESULTS
Some 15.4% (9.8% girls, 22% boys) subjects had NAFLD (ALT > 40 IU/L) after excluding other identifiable causes of liver dysfunction. Age, weight, TG, fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR levels were higher in children with NAFLD. Twenty-eight percent children had MS. Children with NAFLD had an odds ratio of 2.65 for having MS (boys 4.6, girls 1.7). The prevalence of MS increased with age 5-9 years (21%), 10-16 years (30%), 17-20 years (35%).


CONCLUSIONS
Given high prevalence of NAFLD and MS in obese children, childhood obesity should be seriously considered as a disease and not just a cosmetic issue.
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Infant's,Children Hospital of Brooklyn at Maimonides Brooklyn, New York, NY 11219, USA.
Rishi
R
Gupta
Amrit
A
Bhangoo
Nicole A V
NA
Matthews
Henry
H
Anhalt
Yesu
Y
Matta
Basant
B
Lamichhane
Shahid
S
Malik
Shivinder
S
Narwal
Graciela
G
Wetzler
Svetlana
S
Ten
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000410:Alanine Transaminase