Association of Body Mass Index and Lipid Profiles in Children

Abstract

We examined the lipid values of obese and normal-weight children, to look if there is an association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and lipid profiles. Our study group included 100 volunteers (50 children with normal BMI and 50 with high BMI) who were admitted to Kagithane State Hospital Pediatrics Clinic for various reasons between July 2010 and May 2011. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age between 2 and 14 years, no chronic disease and no developmental defects. The high BMI group had significantly higher Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels in comparison to the normal BMI group (p < 0.05). We also found that the high BMI group had higher cholesterol levels close to upper limit than the normal BMI group. We found high triglyceride levels not only in the high BMI group but also in the normal BMI group with a rate of 26% and 24% respectively. The difference of 2% was not significant. We advise that identification and treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol levels is of tremendous significance for obese children or adolescents for future cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood. In the light of these findings, we must not overlook cardiovascular risk in the normal BMI group children. We believe that necessary precautions must be taken for preventing overweight and dyslipidemia in early childhood. Accordingly, it is of paramount importance not only to reduce obesity in children and adolescents but also to monitor dyslipidemia in normal BMI children to avoid the subsequent risk for cardiovascular disease.