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Children with high BMI, waist circumference at risk for metabolic syndrome later

Issue: March 2008

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Children with BMI and waist circumference beyond established criterion values were at increased risk for adult metabolic syndrome, according to data from a recently published study.

Researchers from the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, and other sites, conducted a two-part study to determine age- and sex-specific values that predict adult metabolic syndrome.

The first part of the retrospective study included participants with metabolic syndrome; the mean age was 51 years; 92 were men and 59 were women. The researchers compared data from these participants with data from 154 participants without metabolic syndrome matched for age and sex.

Part two of the study included a predictive accuracy validation sample of 743 participants.

Metabolic syndrome could be predicted by high BMIs in boys at age 8 and girls at age 13, according to the study. Differences for waist circumference occurred at age 6 for boys and age 13 for girls.

If BMI exceeded criterion values in childhood, the odds ratio for metabolic syndrome at age 30 and older was 1.4 to 1.9 in boys and 0.8 to 2.8 in girls. For waist circumference, the odds ratio was 2.5 to 31.4 in boys and 1.7 to 2.5 in girls. – by Christen Haigh

For more information:

• Sun S, Liang R, Huang T, et al. Childhood Obesity Predicts Adult Metabolic Syndrome: The Fels Longitudinal Study. J Pediatr. 2008;152:191-200.

Physicians are trying to determine which children are at greatest risk for developing metabolic syndrome. As a pediatric endocrinologist, I went into medicine to take care of bouncing, healthy babies; suddenly, I realize I may be looking at metabolic time bombs, so to speak. So, which children do I need to be more concerned about? How can I see what the child is going to morph into as an adult? How hard do I push a family to make changes? According to the Fels study, which followed a cohort of children into adulthood, BMI and waist circumference are very important. By identifying these two variables as being the most predictive of adult metabolic syndrome, a simple office-based intervention can now be a tool for general pediatricians, family practitioners, pediatric endocrinologists, and so many others who care for obese patients and their families. A tool exists that enables us to tell parents that if a child’s BMI or waist circumference continues to increase, he or she is at a much higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome as an adult. It is not triglyceride levels and high-density lipoprotein levels, rather it is BMI and waist circumference, which are simple to measure.

– Henry Anhalt, DO

Pediatric Endocrinologist
St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, N.J.