Autonomic nervous system functions in obese children

Childhood obesity is a complex syndrome, probably due to the multiplicity o f contributing factors, contradictory literature information about etiology , prognosis, prevention and treatment. In the recent reports, autonomic ner vous system (ANS) dysfunction has been documented in adult obesity. Autonom ic nervous system functions in obese children are not clear. This study was planned to investigate autonomic nervous system function in childhood (7-1 3 years of age) obesity. Study and control groups consisted of 33 simple ob ese (23 boys and ten girls, mean age 9.5 +/- 1.4 years) and 30 healthy chil dren (18 boys and 12 girls, mean age 10.1 +/- 1.8 years), respectively. Fou r non-invasive autonomic nervous system function tests (Orthostatic test, V alsalva ratio, 30/15 ratio, Heart rate responses to deep breathing) and gen eral ophthalmic examination were performed on both groups. The difference b etween the obese and control groups was found statistically significant in Valsalva ratio, 30/15 ratio and Heart rate responses to deep breathing (P < 0.025), and insignificant in Orthostatic test (P > 0.05). Ophthalmic exami nations were normal. The result of these tests suggested normal activity of sympathetic, and hypoactivity of parasympathetic nervous system, implying parasympathetic nervous system dysfunction as a risk factor or associated f inding in childhood obesity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.