title: Ethnic Differences in Lipid Profiles of Overweight, Obese, and Severely Obese Children and Adolescents 6-19 Years of Age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethnic differences in lipid profiles exist in children and adolescents. This study assessed whether variations in lipid profiles present in overweight and obese youth were also observed in severely obese youth. Variations could explain the lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in certain ethnic groups at even severe levels of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years of 2001 through 2012. Subjects were divided into groups according to BMI classification. Normal weight was defined as a BMI less than the 85th percentile. Overweight was defined as a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile. Class 1 obesity was defined as a BMI greater than the 95th percentile up to 120% of the 95th percentile. A BMI between 120% and 140% of the 95th percentile was defined as Class 2 obesity. Class 3 was defined as a BMI above 140% of the 95th percentile. Primary outcomes were mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels (HDL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included 14,481 non-Hispanic black (NHB) (N = 4710), non-Hispanic white (N = 4910), and Mexican American (N = 4861) subjects. Across all BMI categories, the NHB group had significantly lower mean TG and higher mean HDL levels (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnic variations in lipid profiles were found in severely obese youth. These findings could explain the lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in NHB youth. Ethnic-specific guidelines are necessary for improved identification of those at risk at all levels of obesity.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Obesity, Brookdale Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY.|2 Department of Cardiology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhuper
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Nagla S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bayoumi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Obesity, Brookdale Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Yash D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Obesity, Brookdale Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: ethnic differences in lipid profiles; metabolic syndrome; severe childhood obesity