Metabolic syndrome among children aged 6 to 11 years, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates: Role of obesity. Issue 5 (4th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Syed Mahboob; Aziz, Faisal; Al Meskari, Fatima; Al Kaabi, Juma; Khan, Unab I.; Jaacks, Lindsay M.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric diabetes. Volume 21:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 735
• Page End: 742
• Publication Date: 2020-05-04
• Subjects: children -- diabetes -- metabolic syndrome -- obesity -- UAE; Diabetes in children -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1111/pedi.13027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1399-543X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome with the varying degrees of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: As an ancillary to the primary study examining prevalence of MetS in a random sample of 1186 adolescents from 114 schools in Al Ain, parents and siblings aged 6 to 11 years were invited to participate in this study. After informed consent from parents and assent from children, trained nurses administered questionnaires to assess socio‐demographic and lifestyle variables and conducted anthropometric measurements. Fasting blood samples were drawn to measure plasma lipids and glucose. We used Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC)‐defined categories of body mass index (BMI = kg/m 2 ) for normal weight (<85th percentile), overweight (≥85th to 94th percentile), and obese (≥95th percentiles). MetS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP)/Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Results: Of the total 234 siblings aged 6 to 11 years, 8.9% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 5.6‐13.4) had MetS. The prevalence of MetS increased with the severity of obesity, 4.5% in normal, 16.7% in overweight, and 30.0% in obese subjects. The age, sex, and ethnicity adjusted odds (1.55, 95% CI: 1.23‐1.96) of MetS increased significantly with per unit increase in BMI. Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS in study subjects increased with an increase in BMI. School‐based interventions targeting metabolic risks in this population are urgently needed.