title: High cardiovascular risk in severely obese young children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in severely obese children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide prospective surveillance study was carried out from July 2005 to July 2007 where paediatricians were asked to report all new cases of severe obesity in 2-18-year-old children to the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Severe obesity is defined by gender and age-dependent cut-off points for body mass index based on Dutch National Growth Studies corresponding to the adult cut-off point of 35 kg/m(2). Paediatricians were asked to complete a questionnaire for every severely obese child regarding socio-demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipids).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2005, 2006 and 2007, 94%, 87% and 87%, respectively, of paediatricians in the Netherlands responded to the monthly request from the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit and 500 children with newly diagnosed severe obesity were reported. 72.6% (n=363) of paediatricians responded to a subsequent questionnaire. Cardiovascular risk factor data were available in 255/307 (83%) children who were correctly classified as severely obese. 67% had at least one cardiovascular risk factor (56% hypertension, 14% high blood glucose, 0.7% type 2 diabetes and up to 54% low HDL-cholesterol). Remarkably, 62% of severely obese children aged ≤12 years already had one or more cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high number (2/3) of severely obese children have cardiovascular risk factors. Internationally accepted criteria for defining severe obesity and guidelines for early detection and treatment of severe obesity and comorbidity are urgently needed.
authors: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, van der Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Nathalie M A
authors: NM
authors: van Emmerik
authors: Carry M
authors: CM
authors: Renders
authors: Marije
authors: M
authors: van de Veer
authors: Stef
authors: S
authors: van Buuren
authors: Olga H
authors: OH
authors: van der Baan-Slootweg
authors: Joana E
authors: JE
authors: Kist-van Holthe
authors: Remy A
authors: RA
authors: Hirasing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides