The Prevalence of Obesity and Metabolic Abnormalities in Korean Pediatric Population.
- Author:
Han Nae NHO
1
;
Cu Rie KIM
;
Ji Hyun UHM
;
Jeong Tae KIM
;
Sun Mi JIN
;
Ji Young SEO
;
Hye Won HAHN
;
Hwa Young PARK
;
Hye Sun YOON
;
Young Min AHN
;
Keun Chan SHON
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea. eomjie@eulji.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Obesity;
Hypertension;
Cholesterol;
Aminotransferase
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Alanine Transaminase;
Aspartate Aminotransferases;
Blood Pressure;
Body Mass Index;
Child;
Cholesterol;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Fasting;
Fatty Liver;
Female;
Glucose;
Hematologic Tests;
Hospitals, General;
Humans;
Hypercholesterolemia;
Hyperglycemia;
Hyperlipidemias;
Hypertension;
Liver Function Tests;
Male;
Obesity;
Prevalence
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
2009;12(2):207-214
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Childhood obesity can be complicated by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and metabolic complications of children and adolescents based on the degree of obesity. METHODS: We analyzed the records of 8,880 students who received student health examinations between May 2006 and October 2008 at the Eulji General Hospital. The prevalence of obesity was evaluated by the body mass index and obesity index. A total of 1,076 obese students had blood tests. We analyzed aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and blood pressure according to the degree of obesity. RESULTS: According to the body mass index, the overall prevalence of obesity was 7.2% (7.8% of male and 6.5% of female students). Based on the obesity index, 12.3% of students (mild: 6.3%, moderate: 5.0%, and severe: 1.0%) were obese. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, ALT elevation, and hypertension were increased as a function of the degree of obesity (p<0.05), but hyperglycemia showed no significant differences (p=0.298). The overall prevalence of ALT elevation was 17.7% (mild obese group, 10.4%; moderate obese group, 20.5%; and severe obese group, 46.8%). The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia were significantly higher in the elevated ALT group (24.7%, 42.6%, and 5.2%, respectively) compared to the normal ALT group (11.1%, 29.8%, and 2.0%, respectively; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypercholesterolemia, liver function test abnormalities, and hypertension were associated with the degree of obesity. We should focus our attention on managing obese children and adolescents to prevent metabolic complications.
