Differences in Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors Between Ideal Weightand Overweight Elementary School Children

Abstract

0381 Overweight and obesity in American children has steadily increased over the last two decades. This rise in overweight is accompanied by an increase risk for the presence of CHD risk factors. PURPOSE: To assess the percent of children not meeting the current recommendations for fitness, body composition, and levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), and to determine whether fitness and levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG differ between ideal weight and overweight children. METHODS: The sample consisted of 91 children, aged 6 to 11 years. Height and weight were measured for body mass index (BMI), skinfolds were measured for estimation of body fat, blood was collected for measurement of LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG levels, and the timed mile run was used as a index of cardiovascular fitness. RESULTS: Approximately 79% of children had low fitness, 52% had high BMI, 67% had high body fat, 37% had high LDL-C, 66% had low HDL-C, and 34% had high TG. BMI and body fat were positively associated with TG (p = 0.000) and the timed mile run (p = 0.000), and inversely associated with HDL-C (p = 0.000). Only body fat was associated with levels of LDL-C (p = 0.04). The table below presents mean CHD risk factors per cohort.Table: Relationship Between Body Composition and TG, HDL-C, and FitnessCONCLUSION: In this sample, a high proportion of overweight children with low fitness, high LDL-C, low HDL-C, and high TG were identified. These findings suggest that children with high BMI and body fat have lower fitness and unfavorable HDLC and TG levels relative to children with ideal BMI and body fat, placing them at increased risk for CHD as they age.