Chubby children; weighing the risk

Abstract

The present thesis aimed to describe the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors, (which are predictive for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease) among overweight/obese children with or without type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Also, we aimed to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), using a paediatric definition, adjusted for age and sex, as well as a definition which is more in line with the adult criteria. Furthermore, the occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the overweight/obese children was estimated based on elevated serum levels of the fatty liver marker alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Ethnic differences in cardiometabolic risk profiles were of special interest. Finally, the effect of a weight management program in a real-life setting on BMI reduction and changes in cardiometabolic risk profile in obese children was studied