Lower Birth Weight Associated with Current Overweight Status Is Related with the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Japanese Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between lower birth weight and current overweight status and to examine the involvement of these factors in the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese Japanese children. We examined 97 obese boys (mean age 11.3 years; mean percentage overweight [POW] 52.4%) and 29 obese girls (mean age 11.1 years; mean POW 58.3%). The anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting serum insulin and blood glucose, liver enzymes, lipids and lipoproteins were measured. Birth weight and gestational weeks were also recorded. The subjects were divided into either an MS group or a Non-MS group using criteria proposed for Japanese children. We compared the weight parameters (birth weight, current weight and current weight-to-birth weight ratio [WBWR]) between the two groups and analyzed the relationships between the weight parameters and metabolic derangements.There were no significant differences in age or anthropometric measurements between the two groups.However, birth weight in the MS group was lower than that in the Non-MS group, while WBWR of the MS group was higher than that in the Non-MS group. Blood pressure and serum insulin correlated positively with WBWR. These findings suggested that lower birth weight with current overweight status was associated with the MS in obese Japanese children. We were unable to clarify whether subjects with lower birth weight who achieved proper weight gains had the same risk as subjects with appropriate birth weight. However, they should be assisted to grow adequately to prevent future metabolic derangements. (Hypertens Res 2007; 30: 627-634)

The Association Between Fetal and Postnatal Growth Status and Serum Levels of Uric Acid in Children at 3 Years of Age

“…A recent epidemiological study found that LBW children undergo accelerated catch-up growth and tend to be more obese or experience obesity in childhood, which is a strong risk factor for hypertension in adults. 16,[35][36][37] Huxley's study shows that not only being small at birth but also subsequent accelerated postnatal growth tends to lead to high blood pressure in the adolescent period. 6 In a previous study, we also found that accelerated postnatal growth is related to an increased risk of increased blood pressure in early childhood.…”

Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children and relationship to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and waist circumference

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Low birthweight or rapid catch-up growth: which is more associated with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in later life? A systematic review and cryptanalysis

“…6. In seven studies, 23,26,27,28,35,43,49 TC level was related to BW with two of them 26,28 finding statistically significant differences, and in one study 23 TC was equal in both the SGA and AGA groups. 7.…”

“…32,35,49,57 4. In eight studies, 24,26,27,28,31,35,49,57 serum insulin levels in older subjects were related to BW; six of them 24,26,27,28,31,35 reported higher mean serum insulin in the SGA than in the AGA group, and two studies. 49,57 reported an inverse relationship between insulin and BW.…”

“…LDL-C level was reported in five studies. 23,27,28,35,49 In four studies, 27,28,35,49 LDL-C was related to BW with significant differences in one of them. 28 In one study, it was equal in the SGA and AGA groups.…”