Cardio-Metabolic Risk Evaluation in Overweight and Obese Children

Summary

Metabolic and cardio-vascular complications can often appear in overweight and obese children from an early age. Currently, there are few studies in the specialized literature that correlate clinical, biological and ultrasound parameters in order to stratify cardio-metabolic risk in obese children. Also, the specialized literature is poor regarding longitudinal follow-up and the importance of diet for reducing metabolic and cardiovascular complications in these children.

This study is designed to assess the hypothesis that the sustained improvement of lifestyle with regard to nutrition and exercise can reverse cardiometabolic multimorbidities in obese children as assessed by clinical, biological and ultrasound evaluation.

Conditions

• Pediatric Obesity
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
• Atherosclerosis
• Psychology
• Cardiometabolic Syndrome

Interventions

OTHER

History and Clinical evaluation

HISTORY and CLINICAL EVALUATION and recording of the following parameters: * Gestational Age * Birth Weight * Gender * Weaning habits * Anthropometric indices: actual age; actual weight; actual height; body mass index BMI (kg/m2) + percentile; waist circumference; age for height; weight for height; height for age; height standard deviation score (SDS) * Vital parameters: heart rate (beats/min); respiratory rate (breaths/min); blood pressure (mmHg) * Adipose tissue * Subcutaneous fat tissue distribution * Acanthosis Nigricans * Stretch marks (striae) * Tanner Puberty Stage

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Biological evaluation of the metabolic syndrome and components

LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS will include: * Lipid Profile: total cholesterol (mmol/L); LDL - cholesterol (mmol/L); HDL - cholesterol (mmol/L); triglycerides (mmol/L) * Glucose - Insulin Profile: HbA1c (%); serum glucose (mmol/L); insulinemia (µUI/mL); HOMA Index * Liver Function: alanine aminotransferase (ALT or TGP) (U/L); gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) (U/L) * Cardio-Vascular Risk - Inflammation - Oxidative Stress: ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (ng/mL); leptin (ng/mL); adiponectin (ng/mL); serum selenium (μg/L); glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (U/L)

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Ultrasound evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis and visceral fat storage

ULTRASOUND EVALUATION by: * Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT) Measurement using B-Mode ultrasound (Samsung Medison UGEO H60 Ultrasound System, Samsung Medison CO., LTD., Seoul Korea) with a high frequency linear array probe (5-13 MHz) and a semi-automated software (Auto IMT+), according to the Mannheim Consensus * Measurements of Visceral-to-Subcutaneous-Fat Ratio using B-Mode ultrasound (Samsung Medison UGEO H60 Ultrasound System, Samsung Medison CO., LTD., Seoul Korea) with a 7.5 (12) MHz linear transducer for subcutaneous fat and a 3.5 MHz convex transducer for visceral fat measurement * Ultrasound Quantification of Hepatic Steatosis: assessed with B-Mode ultrasound (Samsung Medison UGEO H60 Ultrasound System, Samsung Medison CO., LTD., Seoul Korea) using 3.5 MHz convex transducer; increased liver echogenicity, blurring of vascular margins and increased acoustic attenuation are the parameters considered in the quantification of hepatic steatosis

OTHER

Nutritional assessment

NUTRITION CONSULT Initial consult will include: food habits survey aiming at identifying the nutritional factors that led to an increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and recommendations At reevaluations the food diary of the patients will be evaluated and recommendations will be adapted accordingly. The final visit will include evaluation of the food diary looking to identify the factors that have or have not helped to normalize BMI in order to recommend a long-term healthy lifestyle.

BEHAVIORAL

Psychological evaluation of the impact of obesity/overweight

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT by: Evaluation of pediatric health-related quality of life will be assessed with Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The questionnaire has 23 items and undertakes the four types of functioning: physical, emotional, social, and educational. It can be filled in by children as well as parents. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. Another questionnaire that will be used is the the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. It is composed of 10 questions and measures positive and negative feelings about the self. The answer range is from strongly agree to strongly disagree. A higher score means higher self-esteem. Drawing in children is a communicative tool, many times more than reading or language. It can measure the image of the self and the image of the others and is representative of the unconscious. Questionnaires and drawing interpretation will be done at the initial presentation and at every control visit.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara

  collaborator OTHER

• West University of Timisoara

  collaborator OTHER

• Neoped - Centru de Pediatrie

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Teofana O Bizerea-Moga, MD PhD · Neoped - Centru de Pediatrie; "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania

Eligibility

Min Age

1 Year

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-07-10

Primary Completion

2023-12-10

Completion

2024-07-10

Countries

• Romania

Study Locations