Is Overweight a Risk of Early Atherosclerosis in Childhood?

We measured brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in overweight (n = 67) and normal weight children (n = 115, controls). Age at examination ranged from 72 to 182 months (mean 123 ± 27). Compared to controls, the overweight children had increased weight, waist and hip circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (all P < .001), right and left mean cIMT (mm; 0.58 [0.42-0.68] vs 0.44 [0.3-0.64], P < .001 and 0.56 [0.32-0.70] vs 0.44 [0.3-0.60], P < .001), respectively, and decreased FMD (%; 6.25 [3.33-19.05] vs 7.69 [3.45-16], P < .001). The cIMT and FMD were closely related to the serum insulin concentrations. Age, waist circumferences, and serum triglycerides were independent predictive risk factors for increased cIMT, and fasting glucose and BMI were independent predictive variables for decreased FMD. Overweight children are also potentially at risk of early atherosclerosis as much as obese children.