title: Associations among the Degree of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Degree of Obesity in Children, and Parental Obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the associations among the degrees of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by ultrasonography and metabolic syndrome, degrees of obesity in children, and degrees of parental obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 198 children with obesity who visited a pediatric obesity clinic were prospectively enrolled in this study. The severity of NAFLD based on ultrasonography was classified into no, mild, moderate, or severe NAFLD group. The degree of obesity based on the percentage over standard weight for height per sex was classified into mild, moderate, or severe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 132 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome, thep-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.009. Therefore, metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of NAFLD. Of 158 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and the degree of obesity, thep-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.122. Of 154 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and father's obesity, thep-value was 0.076. Of 159 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and mother's obesity, thep-value was 0.000, indicating that mother's obesity could significantly affect the degree of obesity in children. Of 142 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and metabolic syndrome, thep-value was 0.288.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver in children. In addition, mother's obesity might be a significant factor that affects the degree of obesity in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sorina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Hyuck
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mu Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Child; Metabolic syndrome; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity