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World J Clin Pediatr. Dec 8, 2012; 1(4): 37-39
Published online Dec 8, 2012. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v1.i4.37
Metabolically obese normal-weight children
Fernando Guerrero-Romero, Martha Rodríguez-Moran
Fernando Guerrero-Romero, Martha Rodríguez-Moran Biomedical Research Unit, Mexican Social Security Institute, ZC 34067 Durango, Mexico
Author contributions: Guerrero-Romero F was responsible for the study concept, acqusition, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript; Rodríguez-Moran M was responsible for acquisition and interpretation of data.
Supported by Fundacion IMSS, AC
Correspondence to: Fernando Guerrero-Romero, MD, PhD, Senior Researcher and Head of the Biomedical Research Unit, Mexican Social Security Institute, ZC 34067 Durango, Mexico. guerrero_romero@hotmail.com
Telephone: +52-618-8120997 Fax: +52-618-8132014
Received: April 16, 2012
Revised: September 13, 2012
Accepted: December 5, 2012
Published online: December 8, 2012
Abstract

Non-obese children with elevated serum insulin levels and metabolic disorders such as, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and/or hypertriglyceridemia are a subset of children in high risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Since usually the health policies for the prevention of the obesity associated disorders in children are based on the screening focused on the obese, frequently the metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) children are not identified in primary care setting. Given that characterization of the MONW children is an important public health issue, and that a large amount of resources might be unnecessarily used in the screening of metabolic risk of nonobese children; we review data regarding criteria for the early recognition of this subset of children in high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Results of our review suggests that the presence of family history of type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension, the elevated percentage of body fat, and the high birth-weight should be taken into account as criteria of high cardiovascular risk, irrespective of obesity.

Keywords: Children, Normal-weight, Cardiovascular risk factors, Screening, Obesity