Triponderal mass index and markers of metabolic risk in children and adolescents with obesity

Abstract

Background and objectiveTriponderal mass index (TMI) would estimate excess adiposity better than body mass index (BMI), maintaining stable values during childhood. This work aims to determine the correlation between TMI and markers of metabolic risk as well as set values of TMI that are related to an increase of metabolic risk. Material and methodsMulticenter, observational, cross-sectional and prospective study in children under 14 years of age with obesity. Variables: age, sex, pubertal stage, weight, height, abdominal circumference, BMI, TMI, basal glucose and insulin, HOMA index, blood pressure, lipoprotein profile, transaminases and uric acid. BMI and TMI were expressed according to the values of the Barcelona Longitudinal Study. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS® program. Results199 patients (50.3% male), age 11.08 (2.48) years, TMI 19.68 (2.36) kg/m3. Correlation between TMI and abdominal circumference (r 0.571; p 0), insulin (r 0.198; p 0.005), HOMA index (r 0.189; p 0.008) and HDL-c (r −0.188; p 0.008) was observed. IMT>20.15kg/m3 was associated with insulin ≥15 mIU/mL (p 0.029) and IMT>20.36kg/m3 with HDL-c <40mg/dl (p 0.023). ConclusionsTMI was correlated with increase of abdominal circumference, insulin and HOMA index and decrease of HDL-c. IMT>20kg/m3 can be associated with increased insulin and decreased HDL-c. Therefore, the IMT seems to be a useful parameter in the assessment of pediatric patients with obesity.