Profiles of obese children presenting for metabolic evaluation

Background: Obesity, increasingly prevalent among children, causes major mo rbidities, among which is earlier onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: We reviewed charts of children aged 3 to 18 years (n=106). The pop ulation was divided into four age groups. Anthropomorphic measurements, fam ily history, diet and exercise patterns, and selected endocrine/metabolic m easurements were recorded, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: Obesity in one or both parents correlated with a higher percent of ideal body weight (IBW) (p=0.01). Fifty-eight percent of the children had first- or second-degree relatives with a history of type 2 DM; 9% had relat ives with type 1 DM. Fifty-four percent had dieted and exercised regularly. Mean onset of obesity was at 4.2 +/-0.9 years. Mean cholesterol was elevat ed at 176 mg/dl. Average BMI was 26.6 in the youngest children (Group 1; no rmal mean for this age similar to 15.5), and increased to 37.8 in adolescen ts (Group 4; normal mean similar to 21). Elevated TSH was present in <1% of the population. The number of patients with an abnormal insulin: glucose r atio (>1:4) increased with age. Conclusions: Childhood obesity in children is correlated with family histor ies of obesity and DM. Thyroid dysfunction is seldom found, although mild h ypercholesterolemia and insulin insensitivity are prevalent, especially amo ng adolescents.