Relation between adiposity and disease risk factors in Mexican American children.

OBJECTIVE

Excess adiposity is associated with systemic low-grade inflammation, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between measures of adiposity and disease risk factors in Mexican American children participating in a weight loss intervention.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Boys and girls (N=170; 13.3+/-0.1 year) volunteered for additional testing from a larger study that demonstrated significant reduction in standardized body mass index. Insulin, C-reactive protein, soluble cluster of differentiation 14, glucose, and cholesterol profile were assessed.

RESULTS

Linear mixed models regression showed that changes in adiposity (standardized body mass index and triceps skinfold) were significantly related with changes in total cholesterol (P=0.01), triglycerides (P<0.001), C-reactive protein (P<0.001), insulin (P<0.001), Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P<0.001), and high-density lipoprotein (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The relation between measures of adiposity and disease risk factors was stable over time in children participating in an exercise/weight loss intervention. Also, our findings indicate that reducing adiposity results in an improvement of blood disease risk factors in Mexican American children.