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Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening

International Journal of Obesity volume 28, pages 852–857 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We sought to study arterial endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), both early markers of atherosclerosis, in overweight compared to normal children.

DESIGN: Case–control comparison.

SUBJECTS: A total of 36 asymptomatic overweight children (body mass index (BMI)>23; mean 25±3) aged 9–12 y and 36 age- and gender-matched nonobese healthy children (BMI<21) from a school community.

MEASUREMENTS: The key parameters were: BMI, arterial endothelial function (ultrasound-derived endothelium-dependent dilation) and carotid artery IMT. The secondary parameters measured included body fat content, waist–hip ratio (WHR), blood pressures, blood lipids, insulin and glucose.

RESULTS: The two groups were well matched for blood pressures, cholesterol and glucose levels, but BMI (P<0.0001), body fat (P=0.001), WHR (P<0.05), fasting blood insulin (P=0.001) and triglyceride levels (P<0.05) were higher in obese children. Overweight was associated with impaired arterial endothelial function (6.6±2.3 vs 9.7±3.0%, P<0.0001) and increased carotid IMT (0.49±0.04 mm vs 0.45±0.04 mm, P=0.006). The degree of endothelial dysfunction correlated with BMI (P<0.003) on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION: Obesity, even of mild-to-moderate degree, is independently associated with abnormal arterial function and structure in otherwise healthy young children.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the contributions of Ms Alice SP Cheung, Lindy LT Chan and Amy SL Lam of the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics of the Prince of Wales Hospital to this work. This project was supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Heart Health Promotion, the Shaw Foundation and the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (CUHK4060/2000 M).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    K S Woo, P Chook & M Qiao

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    C W Yu, R Y T Sung & S S F Leung

  3. Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    C W K Lam

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Organ Imaging, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    C Metreweli

  5. Department of Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia

    D S Celermajer

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  1. K S Woo
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  2. P Chook
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  3. C W Yu
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Correspondence to K S Woo.

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Woo, K., Chook, P., Yu, C. et al. Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening. Int J Obes 28, 852–857 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802539

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