Obese Boys Research Articles

Triglyceride glucose index, pediatric NAFLD fibrosis index, and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio are the most predictive markers of the metabolically unhealthy phenotype in overweight/obese adolescent boys.

The prevalence of obesity constantly increases worldwide and definitely increases the risk of premature death in early adulthood. While there is no treatment yet with proven efficacy for the metabolic clamp such as arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, and fatty liver disease, it is imperative to find a way to decrease cardiometabolic complications. Early prevention strategies beginning in childhood are the most logical step to reduce future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to determine the most sensitive and specific predictive markers of the metabolically unhealthy phenotype with high cardiometabolic risk in overweight/obese adolescent boys. This study was carried out at the Ternopil Regional Children's hospital (Western Ukraine) and involved 254 randomly chosen adolescent overweight or obese boys [median age was 16.0 (15.0,16.1) years]. A control group of 30 healthy children with proportional body weight comparable in gender and age to the main group was presented. A list of anthropometrical markers with biochemical values of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism with hepatic enzymes was determined. All overweight/obese boys were divided into three groups: 51.2% of the boys with metabolic syndrome (MetS) based on the IDF criteria; 19.7% of the boys were metabolically healthy obese (MHO) without hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia; and the rest of the boys (29.1%) were classified as metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) with only one criterion (hypertension, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia). Based on multiple logistic regression analysis that included all anthropometric and biochemical values and calculated indexes in boys from the MHO group and MetS, it was revealed that the maximum likelihood in the prediction of MetS makes the combination of triglyceride glucose index, pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis index (PNFI), and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (R2 =0.713, p<0.000). By tracing the receiver operating characteristic curve, the model is confirmed as a good predictor of MetS (AUC=0.898, odds ratio=27.111 percentage correct=86.03%) in overweight and obese boys. Triglyceride glucose index, pediatric NAFLD fibrosis index, and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio are a valuable combination of predictive markers of the metabolically unhealthy phenotype in Ukrainian overweight/obese boys.

Serum Osteocalcin, Sclerostin and Lipocalin-2 Levels in Adolescent Boys with Obesity over a 12-Week Sprint Interval Training.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of supervised cycling sprint interval training (SIT) on serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin levels, and bone mineral characteristics among obese adolescent boys. Untrained obese adolescent boys aged 13.4 ± 0.3 were assigned to either a 12-week SIT group (3 sessions/week), or a non-exercising control group who continued with their habitual everyday life. Serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin concentrations, and bone mineral values were assessed before and after intervention. After 12-week intervention, where 14 boys in both groups ended the study, there were no significant differences in serum osteokine levels between the groups after 12 weeks, while whole body bone mineral content and lower limb bone mineral density increased in the SIT group (p < 0.05). Change in body mass index was negatively correlated with the change in osteocalcin (r = -0.57; p = 0.034), and positively correlated with the change in lipocalin-2 levels (r = 0.57; p = 0.035) in the SIT group. Supervised 12-week SIT intervention improved bone mineral characteristics, but did not change osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 or sclerostin levels in adolescent boys with obesity.

Визначення толерантності до фізичного навантаження і резервів організму в дітей шкільного віку з ожирінням та артеріальною гіпертензією

Determining of tolerance to physical exertion (TPE) in children with various diseases is an important diagnostic aspect of modern medicine. This area helps to improve the prognostic capabilities of doctors and improve approaches to therapeutic interventions in patients with various pathologies. In pediatrics, there are limited data on the study of TPE in patients with hypertension and no data at all in children with a combination of hypertension and obesity. Purpose - to assess the level of TPE and body reserves in school-age children with obesity and arterial hypertension. Materials and methods. 112 patients aged 9-18 took part in the study. All patients were divided into four groups. The Group 1 (control) included children with normal blood pressure and normal body weight; the Group 2 included patients with arterial hypertension and normal body weight; the Group 3 - with normal arterial pressure and obesity; the Group 4 - with a combination of arterial hypertension and obesity. Results and conclusions. If patients have hypertension or obesity, a decrease in VO2max is noted, which is more pronounced when these pathologies are comorbid. Obese boys have a tendency to increase maximum systolic blood pressure during bicycle ergometry (158.2±8.4 mmHg) compared to healthy children (149.4±10.5 mmHg). The average values of maximum diastolic blood pressure during bicycle ergometry in all studied groups did not differ significantly from the average values of the control group. Obesity is accompanied by a more pronounced decrease in vascular reserves than arterial hypertension, the comorbidity of these diseases in patients is associated with the deterioration of these reserves in comparison with patients who have only one disease. The obtained results indicate a decrease in cardiac reserves when the patient has comorbidities of arterial hypertension and obesity. At the same time, the presence of only one of the named diseases in the patient is not accompanied by a significant decrease in indicators compared to the control group. In patients with arterial hypertension, a less effective use of myocardial reserves and an increased demand for myocardial oxygen during work compared to healthy children are noted. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Multiple beneficial effects of 1-year nutritional-behavioral intervention on anthropometric and metabolic parameters in overweight and obese boys.

Childhood obesity is on the rise worldwide increasing the risk for metabolic, cardiovascular and liver diseases in children. Eating habits and lifestyle changes are currently the standard of care for treating pediatric obesity. Our study aimed to determine the impact of a dietary intervention based on the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and the Health Eating Plate, on anthropometric and metabolic parameters in obese and overweight boys. We studied 126 overweight/obese boys with anthropometric measurements, blood biochemistry and nutrient intakes evaluation by means of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline, at 6 and 12months after a nutritional-behavioral intervention. We observed a significant reduction in energy, macronutrients and micronutrients intakes. BMI-SDS significantly decreased after 1year with the proportion of obese boys decreasing by 33% and of overweight boys by 41%, while also all fat mass measures decreased both in obese and overweight individuals. In obese boys, ALT decreased significantly after 1-year nutritional intervention and these changes correlated with BMI-SDS reduction. Insulin-resistance and secretion indexes correlated with fat mass and BMI-SDS. In obese boys, significant changes were observed at 6months for insulin concentrations, 1/HOMA-IR and QUICKI. With regard to the lipid profile, significant decreases were observed for total and LDL cholesterol in obese boys. Metabolic and anthropometric risk factors in overweight and obese boys can be improved by a nutritional-behavioral intervention of 1-year duration.

THE LIFESTYLE PATTERN &amp; PREVALENCE OF OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT AMONG THE ADOLESCENTS OF BHOPAL CITY, MADHYA PRADESH, CENTRAL INDIA

Introduction: Adolescence means “grow to maturity”. It is derived from the Latin verb Adolescere. This is a period of life between childhood and adulthood during which growth and development occur. The trend of consumption of fast food increases worldwide and in India fast food production and consumption are high. Physical inactivity is associated with a high risk of non-communicable diseases. In India non-communicable diseases like metabolic syndrome are growing fast currently. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Sampling was done by using Systematic multistage random sampling. By using the formula N= Z2 PQ/ d2, the Sample size was calculated as 322. 536 adolescents of age (13-17 years) group were enrolled from the four schools in a different quadrant of Bhopal city. Results: In the present study 35.26% (189) adolescents were boys and 64.74% (347) were girls. In this study Prevalence of overweight/pre-obese in boys was found at 8.06% &amp; in Girls, it was 12.17%. Whereas the prevalence of obesity in boys was found 1.45% and in girls, it was 3.7%.Conclusion: Adolescents who spent leisure time on television or computer/internet were found overweight and obese relative to those who spend less time. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found less in adolescents who were highly active as per the physical activity index as compared to those who were less active

Effects of nutrition on the estimation of dental age in Argentinian children by radiographic method

Objective: to analyze the influence of the nutritional status on the estimation of the chronological age from radiographs through the degree of dental calcification using the methods of Demirjian et al., Willems et al., Nolla and Haavikko in children of both sexes from Tucuman, Argentina. Methods: 223 children (115 females and 108 males) who assisted to radiological studies previous to dental treatment were selected. Panoramic X-rays were taken. Dental ages were calculated using the corresponding tables of the methods of Demirjian et al., Willems et al., Nolla and Haavikko. Chronological ages were calculated between the date of birth and the date of the study. Children were grouped according to their sex and nutritional status. Results: For normal weight girls, the mean difference between dental and chronological age was: Demirjian et al.: 0.26±0.93; Willems et al: 0.43±0.95; Nolla: -0.31±0.84; Haavikko: -0.13±0.82. For normal weight boys: Demirjian et al.: 0.16±0.77; Willems et al.: 0.20±0.79; Nolla: -0.23±0.65; Haavikko: -0.255±0.73. For overweight girls: Demirjian et al.: 0.53±0.91; Willems et al.: 0.31±0.88; Nolla: -0.44±0.69; Haavikko: 0.09±0.81. For overweight boys: Demirjian et al.: 0.38±0.86; Willems et al.: 0.36±0.80; Nolla: 0.06±0.75; Haavikko: 0.06±0.94. For obese girls: Demirjian et al.: 0.92±0.75; Willems et al.: 0.83±1.37; Nolla: -0.47±0.57; Haavikko: 0.31±0.16. For obese boys: Demirjian et al.: 0.85±0.95; Willems et al.: 0.50±0.94; Nolla: 0.32±0.82; Haavikko: 0.50±0.77. For underweight boys and girls: Demirjian et al.: -0.36±0.82; Willems et al.: -0.25±0.70; Nolla: -0.85±0.87; Haavikko: -0.85±0.92. Conclusion: In normal boys and girls the methods of Demirjian et al. and Willems et al. overestimated the chronological age; those of Nolla and Haavikko underestimated it. In overweight boys and girls, the overestimation (Demirjian et al. and Willems et al.) doubled the chronological age, while in obese boys and girls, both methods tripled it.

Paternal BMI in the preconception period, and the association with child zBMI.

Rapid growth and excess weight in early childhood are associated with obesity risk. While maternal preconception BMI has been identified as a potential risk factor, the role of paternal preconception BMI is less clear. To examine the association between paternal preconception BMI and age- and sex-standardized WHO BMI z-score (zBMI) growth rates, zBMI, and weight status, in 0- to 10-year-old children. To determine whether these associations differed by child sex and maternal preconception weight status. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted through The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGet Kids!). Children (n = 218) underwent repeated measures of height and weight from birth to 10 years old. Piecewise linear mixed models were used to assess the association between paternal preconception BMI and child zBMI growth rates (zBMI SD units/month) between 0, 4, 30, 48 and 120 months of age. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association with child zBMI, and logistic generalized estimation equations (GEE) were used to assess the association with child weight status. Child sex and maternal preconception weight status were tested as effect modifiers. Paternal preconception BMI was associated with child zBMI growth rate, mean zBMI and weight status in boys, but not girls. A 5 kg/m2 higher paternal preconception BMI was associated with approximately 0.01 zBMI SD unit/month higher growth rate for boys born to mothers with preconception overweight. Higher paternal BMI was associated with higher mean zBMI and increased odds of overweight and obesity in boys, with greater effects seen when mothers had preconception overweight compared to normal weight. Paternal preconception BMI was associated with child zBMI growth rate, zBMI and weight status in boys, with greater effects when the biological mother had preconception overweight or obesity. Further understanding of sex differences in paternal preconception weight effects in children is needed.

Serum levels of the novel adipokine isthmin-1 are associated with obesity in pubertal boys

ObjectivesTo evaluate whether there is an association between the serum levels of the novel insulin-like adipokine isthmin-1 (ISM1) and obesity-related phenotypes in a population of Spanish children and to investigate the plausible molecular alterations behind the alteration of the serum levels of this protein in children with obesity.MethodsThe study population is a sub-cohort of the PUBMEP research project, consisting of a cross-sectional population of 119 pubertal children with overweight (17 boys, 19 girls), obesity (20 boys, 25 girls), and normal weight (17 boys, 21 girls). All subjects were classified into experimental groups according to their sex, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) status. They were counted anthropometry, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and cardiovascular biomarkers as well as isthmin-1 (ISM1) serum levels. This population was intended as a discovery population to elucidate the relationship between obesity and ISM1 levels in children. Furthermore, the study population had blood whole-genome DNA methylation examined, allowing deepening into the obesity–ISM1 molecular relationship.ResultsHigher serum ISM1 levels were observed in boys with obesity than in normal weight (P = 0.004) and overweight (P = 0.007) boys. ISM1 serum levels were positively associated with body mass index (BMI) Z-score (P = 0.005) and fat mass (P = 0.058) and negatively associated with myeloperoxidase (MPO) (P = 0.043) in boys. Although we did not find associations between ISM1 serum levels and metabolic outcomes in girls, which may indicate a putative sexual dimorphism, fat mass was positively associated in all children, including boys and girls (P = 0.011). DNA methylation levels in two-enhancer-related CpG sites of ISM1 (cg03304641 and cg14269097) were associated with serum levels of ISM1 in children.ConclusionsISM1 is associated with obesity in boys at the pubertal stage, elucidating how this protein might be of special relevance as a new biomarker of obesity in children. Further studies including a longitudinal design during puberty are needed.

EFEITOS DE UM PROGRAMA DE FUTEBOL REDUZIDO SOBRE OS PARÂMETROS DE SAÚDE DE CRIANÇAS OBESAS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Childhood obesity is increasing and, as a consequence, it generates health complications resulting from sedentary behavior and low levels of physical fitness. There are few studies involving children, metabolic and cardiorespiratory profiles, and soccer. Objective: The purpose was to measure the effects of a 12-week recreational small-sided soccer program on cardiometabolic risk and individual responses to cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight or obese boys. Methods: Thirteen boys aged 8-12 years (34.9±11.6% body fat) participated in a 12-week recreational small-sided soccer training program with two 80-minute sessions per week at intensities over 80% of the maximal heart rate. Anthropometric characteristics, cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic profile, individual responses to peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), maximal workload (Wmax), fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, and TG were measured both pre- and post-training. Results: Considering the individual responses of the participants, recreational soccer training was effective in improving variations in maximum power and exhaustion time, as well as promoting at least one beneficial change in cardiometabolic risk factors in 84% of the overweight or obese children. There were no differences between pre- and post-program anthropometric characteristics, metabolic profiles, or VO2peak values. Conclusion: Twelve-week recreational small-sided soccer programs were able to improve maximal power and anaerobic capacity and maintain cardiometabolic risk factor levels in overweight and obese boys. Level of evidence I; High-quality prospective study (all patients were enrolled at the same stage of disease, with &gt;80% of patients enrolled) .

Osseoscopy-Assisted Femoral Head Restoration and Vascularized Graft for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: A Case Report.

A 13-year-old obese adolescent boy with hypothyroidism developed left femoral head avascular necrosis with collapse after slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We restored the femoral head congruity with the aid of osseoscopy and vascularized free fibular graft (VFFG). Four years after surgery, the patient had painless hip range of motion and femoral head contour was maintained. This case highlights a novel use of an arthroscopic camera inside the femoral head to visualize and debride the area of collapse, fill the cavity with cancellous bone graft, and use a VFFG to restore articular support preventing further deterioration of the hip joint.

Sex-Related Neuromuscular Adaptations to Youth Obesity: Force, Muscle Mass, and Neural Issues.

Young obese are generally stronger than their typically developing counterparts. Strength differences could be partly ascribed to nervous adaptations, due to the loading effect of carrying overweight. We hypothesized that central adaptations of the muscles highly involved in weight bearing, i.e., plantar flexors (PF) and knee extensors (KE) could be greater in girls than boys due to their reduced potential for muscle hypertrophy. Furthermore, it is possible that neuromuscular adaptations in weight-bearing muscles will be greater compared to the unloaded muscles such as the adductor pollicis (AP).Twenty-four non-obese and 21 obese (body mass index: 33±4kg·m-2) adolescent girls and boys (12-15years) performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) of the PF and KE muscles. Voluntary activation (VA), assessed with the twitch interpolation technique, the antagonist co-activation (Co-Act) level, and the normalized root-mean-square value (RMS) of the agonist muscles were measured to account for central adaptations.The results revealed a weight status effect (p<0.001) on the absolute MVC torque and VA of both KE and PF muscles. Moreover, these differences were also related to the sex of the participants (p<0.05) for the PF muscles. While the VA, absolute, and specific MVC torque were greater in obese compared with non-obese girls, no difference was found between boys. A similar Co-Act level was observed between groups, whatever the sex and muscle group considered. Finally, no significant differences were found for the AP regarding peripheral and neural factors.This study highlighted a favorable effect of obesity on the central mechanisms (i.e., VA) responsible for force production within the lower limb muscles. However, obesity-related central adaptation was only observed in girls for the PF muscles. Thus, the excess of body mass supported by the muscles involved in weight-bearing could act as a chronic training stimulus responsible for these adaptations in obese adolescents but mostly in girls.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and Diabetes Mellitus: about a clinical case

The diagnosis of persistent DM in the context of acute pancreatitis (AP) in pediatric age is extremely rare. We present the clinical case of a 16-year-old obese boy admitted in the Emergency Department due to intense epigastric abdominal pain. Laboratory findings and imaging exams helped establishing the acute necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis diagnosis. The clinical evolution was favorable, although persistent hyperglicemia was documented. The patient is now on a regimen of multiple insulin administrations with a globally controlled glycemic profile. Although AP is an uncommon cause of persistent DM in pediatric disease spectrum, we must be aware of the existence of this clinical association to better understand and manage our patients.

Handgrip Strength Is Not Associated With High Blood Pressure and Does Not Have Good Discriminatory Power for High Blood Pressure in Adolescents

de Lima, TR and Silva, DAS. Handgrip strength is not associated with high blood pressure and does not have good discriminatory power for high blood pressure in adolescents. J Strength Cond Res 37(1): 46-54, 2023-Muscle strength measured by handgrip strength (HGS) was inversely and independently associated with high blood pressure (HBP). In addition, HGS has been used as a valuable indicator for monitoring pediatric health. This study aimed to investigate the association between HGS indexes and HBP, verify the discriminatory capacity of HGS to identify HBP in adolescents, and propose cut-points for HGS to be used in the early identification of HBP if good discriminatory power is identified between the variables. This was a cross-sectional study comprising 811 adolescents (male: 48.9%; age: 16.4 ± 1.3 years) from southern Brazil. Blood pressure was measured by the oscillometric method. Handgrip strength was assessed by a hand dynamometer and 3 different approaches were adopted: (a) HGS in kilogram-force, (b) normalized HGS (HGS/body mass), and (c) allometric HGS (HGS/body mass-0.67). Binary logistic regression was used to verify the association between HGS indexes and HBP, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to determine the possible use of HGS as a diagnostic tool for HBP. Handgrip strength indexes were not associated with HBP (p > 0.05), and ROC analyses showed a nonsignificant discriminating accuracy for most of the HGS indexes analyzed (p > 0.05) in identifying HBP in boys and girls. The area under curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.499 (95% CI [0.403-0.596] for allometric HGS among overweight or obese boys) to 0.595 (95% CI [0.546-0.643] for HGS among boys). Handgrip strength was not associated with HBP, and its use in the screening of HBP in adolescents is not recommended.

Insights into the implication of obesity in hypogonadism among adolescent boys.

This research aimed at uncovering the mechanisms behind obesity-related hypogonadism in adolescent boys and to investigate the association between anthropometric characteristics and testicular functions of these boys. This study included 60 adolescent boys (12-18 years) with exogenous obesity (BMI≥95th percentile) and 30 age matched lean controls (BMI=15th-85th percentile). Full clinical examination, anthropometric measurements and pubertal assessment were performed. Laboratory investigations included hemoglobin, hematocrit, lipid panel, LH, FSH, free and total testosterone, inhibin B and estradiol. The results indicated the presence of positive family history of obesity in 85% of obese boys vs. 40% of the lean counterparts. Concerning SBP of obese boys, 7%were hypertensive (95th percentile), 25% were prehypertensive (between 90th and 95th percentiles) while, DBP findings showed that 33% are hypertensive and 33% are prehypertensive. Meanwhile, 13.3% of lean controls were prehypertensive. Anthropometric measurements and lipid profile values revealed a significant difference between obese and lean boys. Compared to obese boys the normal weight boys had higher levels of free testosterone (21.15±2.90pg/mL vs. 11.38±3.96pg/mL, p<0.001), total testosterone (10.59±6.63ng/dL vs. 3.23±1.70ng/dL, p<0.001), FSH (7.33±3.75mIU/mL vs. 5.63±3.96mIU/mL, p=0.026) and inhibin B (83.28±27.66pg/mL vs. 62.90±17.85pg/mL, p=0.001) and they registered lower level of estradiol (18.48±7.33pg/mL vs. 40.20±7.91pg/mL, p<0.001). In obese boys, BMI SDS significantly correlated with lipid profile and estradiol whereas, it showed significant negative correlation with LH, free and total testosterone and inhibin B. Penile length significantly correlated with LH while it revealed significant negative correlation with cholesterol. This study evidenced a close association between obesity and hypogonadism in adolescent boys which could be due to the increased estradiol level and decreased T/E2 ratio.

Interplay between dietary intake, gut microbiota, and metabolic profile in obese adolescents: Sex-dependent differential patterns

The interplay among dietary intake, gut microbiota, gut metabolites and circulating metabolites in adolescents is barely known, not to mention sex-dependent pattern. We aimed to explore unique profiles of gut bacterial, gut metabolites and circulating metabolites from both genders of adolescents due to BMI and eating pattern. Clinical indices, fecal gut microbiota, fecal and plasma metabolites, and diet intake information were collected in case-control sample matched for normal and obesity in girls (normal=12, obesity=12) and boys (normal=20, obesity=20), respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics was performed to analysis the signature of gut microbiota and metabolites. Unique profiles of girls associated with BMI and eating pattern was revealed by Spearman's correlations analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Gender difference was found between normal and obese adolescents in gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and plasma metabolites. The Parabacteroides were only decreased in obese girls. And the characteristic of obese girls' and boys' cases in fecal and plasma was xanthine and glutamine, ornithine and LCA, respectively. Soy products intake was negatively associated with Parabacteroides. The predicted model has a higher accuracy based on the combined markers in obesity boys (AUC=0.97) and girls (AUC=0.97), respectively. Reduced abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and Parabacteroides, as well as the increased fecal xanthine and ornithine, may provide a novel biomarker signature in obesity girls and boys. Soy products intake was positively and negatively associated with Romboutsia and Parabacteroides abundance, respectively. And the combined markers facilitate the accuracy of predicting obesity in girls and boys in advance.

Growth hormone response to acute Kangaroo ‘Fun for Fitness’ exercise in normal-weight and obese boys and girls

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the GH responses to Kangaroo exercise between normal-weight and obese children in both genders. Methods: Children (aged 11.28±0.54 y) were divided into; normal-weight boys (N=17), obese boys (N=13), normal-weight girls (N=15), and obese girls (N=9). All participants did Kangaroo exercises with 9 jumps, for a total of 7 sets of ten repetitions for each leg. Before and after exercise, participants were measured for their serum GH concentrations. Results: The results showed that girls (both normal-weight and obese) had a higher serum GH concentration than boys at pre-exercise and post-exercise (all, p &lt; 0.05). There were no differences between normal weight (both genders) and obese groups at pre-test (p &gt; 0.05). However, at a post-test, normal weight (both genders) had a higher serum GH concentration than the obese groups (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, normal-weight groups presented a higher post-exercise serum GH concentration than the pre-exercise (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, the obese groups presented a lower post-exercise serum GH concentration than the pre-exercise (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Obese boys and girls presented diminished acute GH responses to kangaroo exercise. Obese boys and girls displayed lower serum GH concentrations at post-exercise as compared to normal-weight boys and girls.

The CCR2+ Monocyte Subsets Increase in Obese Boys but Not Girls with Abnormally High Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: A Pilot Study.

The differential contribution of monocyte subsets expressing the C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) to subclinical atherosclerosis in girls and boys is unclear. In this pilot study, we compared classical, intermediate, and nonclassical monocyte subsets expressing CCR2 in 33 obese children of both sexes aged 8 to 16 divided by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), considering values above the 75th percentile (p75) as abnormally high IMT. Obesity was defined as body mass index above the 95th percentile according to age and sex. Flow cytometry analyses revealed that boys but not girls with IMT ≥ p75 displayed increased CCR2+ cell percentage and CCR2 expression in the three monocyte subsets, compared to boys with IMT < p75. The CCR2+ cell percentage and CCR2 expression in the three monocyte subsets significantly correlated with increased IMT and insulin resistance in boys but not girls, where the CCR2+ nonclassical monocyte percentage had the strongest associations (r = 0.73 and r = 0.72, respectively). The role of CCR2+ monocyte subpopulations in identifying an abnormally high IMT shows a marked sexual dimorphism, where boys seem to be at higher subclinical atherosclerosis risk than girls.

Influence of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on the Prevalence of Overweight and Obese Czech Children.

Apart from influencing the health of the worldwide population, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the day-to-day life of all, including children. A sedentary lifestyle along with the transformation of eating and sleep habits took place in the child population. These changes created a highly obesogenic environment. Our aim was to evaluate the current weight in the child population and identify the real effects of the pandemic. Height and weight data were collected by pediatricians from the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods from 3517 children (1759 boys and 1758 girls) aged 4.71 to 17.33 years. We found a significant rise in the z-score BMI between pediatric visits in the years 2019 and 2021 in both sexes aged 7, 9, 11, and 13 years. Especially alarming were the percentages of (severely) obese boys at the ages of 9 and 11 years, which exceed even the percentages of overweight boys. With the use of statistical modeling, we registered the most dramatic increment at around 12 years of age in both sexes. Based on our research in the Czech Republic, we can confirm the predictions that were given at the beginning of the pandemic that COVID-19-related restrictions worsened the already present problem of obesity and excess weight in children.

Lower circulating sertoli and leydig cell hormone levels during puberty in obese boys: a cross-sectional study

Lower circulating sertoli and leydig cell hormone levels during puberty in obese boys: a cross-sectional study

Abstract P092: Sex Differences In Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Of Obese Adolescents

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents is rising, with 13% having elevated blood pressure and 5% having hypertension. Sex differences play a role in cardiovascular diseases in adults but are not well defined in youth. The objective of this study is to identify sex differences in obesity-mediated cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Methods: This is a pilot study of n=82 obese children and adolescents recruited from a High BMI Clinic. Boys (n=42) and girls (n=40) were grouped by age (greater or less than age 12). Clinical data and blood samples were collected at a single time point (initial clinic visit). Serum sterols (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and sex hormones) were quantified via LC-MS/MS. Data are mean +/- standard deviation with analysis via 2-way ANOVA. Results: Mean BMI was 32.9 and 37.6 kg/m2 in children under/over age 12, respectively, with no difference in boys versus girls. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in boys and girls over compared to under age 12. Girls over age 12 had higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared to boys (69.4 + 8.6 versus 66.4 + 5.1 mmHG; P&lt;0.05) which was associated with elevated aldosterone (272.5 + 369.9 versus 148.3 + 107.9 pg/mL; P&lt;0.05) and cortisol (100.3 + 69.8 versus 63.0 + 28.9 ng/mL; P&lt;0.05) concentrations. In contrast, there was no difference in the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between boys and girls. Conclusions: Despite having similar BMI and HOMA-IR, girls and boys had differences in DBP and serum sterols. Further analysis will refine associations of sex hormones with anthropometric, blood pressure, and glucose homeostasis measurements in obese girls and boys.