Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity Enrolled in a Tertiary Referral Center

Abstract

Objective To describe some demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of obese children and adolescents admitted in an obesity ambulatory of a referral center located in the southeastern region of Brazil.Methods This is a cross-sectional and observational study and the data (age, gender, type of delivery, birthweight, age of birth, breastfeeding, laboratory tests and maternal body mass index [BMI]) were collected from medical records.Results The study included 89 patients, of which 45 (50.6%) were male. The mean age was 68.9 months, 50 (55.6%) were first-born, 51 (57.3%) were exclusively breastfed during the 1st 6 months of life, and 18 (20.1%) did not receive breast milk. The mean age of the mothers was 29 years old, 87 (98%) did prenatal assistance, and 69 (77.6%) had a BMI > 25 kg/m2. The results also showed that cesarean delivery (42.6%), low birthweight (6.7%), prematurity (8.7%) and early introduction of artificial food (20.1%) was not predominant among the patients. A total of 25 (28%) subjects had total cholesterol > 170 mg/dL, 35 (39.3%) with LDL-cholesterol > 110 mg/dL, 34 (38.2%) had HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL, and 6 (6.7%) with triglycerides > 130 mg/dL. All of the patients had at least one altered biochemical test.Conclusion Healthy lifestyle promotion should be included in every pediatric primary care program, and all children should receive counseling about healthy nutrition and physical activity since birth. Reducing childhood obesity is a major public health priority and primary prevention programs are a critical part to address the problem.