title: Cardio-metabolic risk factors in Argentine children. A comparative study.
abstract: Obesity and its complications are emerging in an epidemic manner in Latin American countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors (CMRFs) and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in overweight/obese (OW/OB) and normal weight (NW) adolescents and to examine the associated variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in two groups of children, between 10 and 19 years of age, in seven Argentine provinces. A survey on dietary habits, physical activity, anthropometric and biochemical data was collected to identify CMRF and MS. The WHO definition adapted to children was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1009 children were assessed; 398 were male (39.4%), 601 (59.6%) were NW and 408 (40.4%) were OW/OB. The OW/OB had a significantly higher proportion of values defined as CMRF: 3.7% impaired fasting glucose >110mg/dl; 27.9% insulin >15 or 20μU/l as they were pubertal/prepubertal; 53.2% Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA)>2.5; 45.6% High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)<40mg/dl; 37.7% TG>110mg/dl and 13.5% hypertension (SBP and/or diastolic Blood Pressure percentile >90). Prevalence of the MS in OW/OB patients was 40.3%. The MS was not observed in NW children. Significant differences were found for: family history of OW/OB, birth weight (BW), age at menarche, presence of acanthosis nigricans, waist circumference (WC) >90th percentile. The WC was positively correlated with BP, TG, insulin, HOMA and Body mass index Z score and negatively with HDL in the study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm obesity as a major determinant of CMRF and MS (40%), especially fat centralization. We stress the need to address obesity prevention plans in children and adolescents.
authors: Hospital San Roque, Servicio de Endocrinología, Diabetes y Nutrición, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentine. Electronic address: figueroasobrero@arnet.com.ar.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Figueroa Sobrero
authors: Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Evangelista
authors: Hospital Cosme Argerich, Servicio de Adolescencia, Ciudad Autónoma de Bs. As, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Kovalskys
authors: Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Nutricionales de Salta, Salta, Argentine.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Digón
authors: Instituto Privado de Especialidades Pediátricas y Gineco- obstétricas, Córdoba, Argentine.
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: López
authors: Hospital Regional de Ushuaia, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentine.
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Scaiola
authors: Hospital José Ramón Vidal, Corrientes, Argentine.
authors: Norma
authors: N
authors: Perez
authors: Hospital Municipal Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Chacabuco, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Dieuzeide
authors: Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, UNL, Santa Fe, Argentine.
authors: Florencia
authors: F
authors: Walz
authors: Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes, Buenos Aires, Argentine.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Mazza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Children; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity