Cardio-metabolic risk factors in Iranian children: where we are and the others?

Rising obesity incidence and its complications have lead to change of our view about cardio-metabolic risk factors and need of reassessment of these complications in childhood age. The aim of current study was to evaluate prevalence of obesity and related cardio-metabolic risk factors of children. This was a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 12 years old children in Rasht, the biggest city in north of Iran. Participants were interviewed and examined by a trained research team and demographic characteristics, detailed examination (height - weight - blood pressure) were recorded. Blood samples were drawn for biochemical testing including Fasting blood sugar, Triglyceride, Cholesterol, HDL & LDL. Data analysis was done using SPSS software. Total participants were 858 children and 550(64%) were male. Prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese were 22.5%, 54.4%, 11.3%, 11.8%, respectively. The prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors included hypercholesterolemia (6.7%), hypertriglyceridemia (33.6%), high LDL (5.9%), low HDL (28 %), high systolic (7.6%) & diastolic blood pressure (10.6%) (> percentile) and abnormal carbohydrate metabolism (12%) revealed hypertriglyceridemia as the most common dyslipidemia. Correlation analysis didn't show significant correlation between BMI & FBS but LDL, Cholesterol and TG had week positive correlation with BMI (Pearson correlation: 0.161, 0.285, 0.222 respectively, p value <0.001). Obesity and dyslipidemia are common problems in this area and we should note to screen cardiometabolic risk factors in addition of obesity, especially in children with rapid weight gain. This study highly recommended more investigation to evaluate final effect of these factors in adulthood.