Health Risks of Sarcopenic Obesity in Overweight Children and Adolescents: Data from the CHILT III Programme (Cologne)

Abstract

Sarcopenic obesity is increasingly found in youth, but its health consequences remain unclear. Therefore, we studied the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors as well as muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness using data from the German Children’s Health InterventionaL Trial (CHILT III) programme. In addition to anthropometric data and blood pressure, muscle and fat mass were determined with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sarcopenia was classified via muscle-to-fat ratio. A fasting blood sample was taken, muscular fitness was determined using the standing long jump, and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined using bicycle ergometry. Of the 119 obese participants included in the analysis (47.1% female, mean age 12.2 years), 83 (69.7%) had sarcopenia. Affected individuals had higher gamma-glutamyl transferase, higher glutamate pyruvate transaminase, higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, higher diastolic blood pressure, and lower muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness (each p < 0.05) compared to participants who were ‘only’ obese. No differences were found in other parameters. In our study, sarcopenic obesity was associated with various disorders in children and adolescents. However, the clinical value must be tested with larger samples and reference populations to develop a unique definition and appropriate methods in terms of identification but also related preventive or therapeutic approaches.

Sex differences in body composition in youth with type 1 diabetes and its predictive value in cardiovascular disease risk assessment

“…The results of this observational study revealed that over one-third of the paediatric cohort with T1D were at risk for CVD, with girls presenting significantly less favourable weight status and body composition than boys, as clearly evident by the BMI and MFR z- We now demonstrated that the predictive value of MFR z-scores in assessing CVD risk factors in youth with overweight and obesity 30,31 is applicable to young subjects with T1D. Sarcopenic obesity is an emerging clinical entity characterised by excessive fat mass in the presence of reduced muscle mass.…”

“…We now demonstrated that the predictive value of MFR z ‐scores in assessing CVD risk factors in youth with overweight and obesity 30 , 31 is applicable to young subjects with T1D. Sarcopenic obesity is an emerging clinical entity characterised by excessive fat mass in the presence of reduced muscle mass.…”

Sarcopenia en pediatría, un nuevo panorama: revisión narrativa

“…Sin embargo, las personas con obesidad sarcopénica pueden tener un peso normal o "solo" sobrepeso, pero su masa muscular, relativamente baja, puede estar enmascarada por una mayor masa grasa (20) . En un estudio de Sack y colaboradores (21) en 119 participantes obesos, se les determinó la masa muscular y grasa con un análisis de impedancia bioeléctrica. Además de los datos antropométricos y la presión arterial, se tomaron muestras de sangre en ayunas, se determinó la aptitud muscular mediante el salto de longitud en parada y se determinó la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria mediante una ergometría en bicicleta.…”

“…La sarcopenia se clasificó por la relación músculograsa (MFR); se encontró que 83 participantes tenían sarcopenia. En este grupo, la obesidad sarcopénica se asocia con una menor aptitud cardiorrespiratoria y muscular, niveles elevados de gamma-glutamil transferasa (GGT), mayor glutamato piruvato transaminasa (GPT), proteína C reactiva de alta sensibilidad más alta (hs-CRP) y una presión arterial diastólica elevada (21) .…”

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood and Adolescence

“…According to the key topics of Pediatric Cardiology, contributions to CHD and cardiomyopathies [3,4] as well as acquired heart disease were edited. Lifestyle factors, nutrition and physical activity [5,6] partly resulting in CV risk factors, such as obesity [7,8], were reported. Bjelakovic et al [8] published a Position Paper from Serbia, which reported on the CV risk assessment and clinical management of children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, which certainly has a great impact on CVD.…”