Association between metabolically healthy obesity and carotid intima-media thickness in Korean adolescents with overweight and obesity

• Published in: Annals of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 227 - 233
• Main Authors: Shin, Sohyun, Kim, Hwa Young, Lee, Joowon, Ryu, Young Jin, Kim, Ji Young, Kim, Jaehyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology 01.08.2024; 대한소아내분비학회
• Subjects: adolescent; cardiometabolic risk factors; carotid intima-media thickness; korea; metabolically benign; obesity; Original; overweight; pediatric obesity; 소아과학; Obesity; Cardiometabolic risk factors; Metabolically benign; Pediatric obesity; Adolescent; Carotid intima-media thickness; Overweight
• ISSN: 2287-1012; 2287-1292
• DOI: 10.6065/apem.2346192.096

Data regarding the association between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and preclinical atherosclerosis in childhood are lacking. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a noninvasive method used to assess cardiovascular risk. This study examined the relationships among cIMT, metabolic phenotypes, and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in overweight and obese adolescents. Anthropometric, biochemical, and cIMT data were collected. The study participants were categorized as MHO or metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) based on insulin resistance. CMRFs were assessed using blood pressure (BP); levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting plasma glucose; or a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Differences in cIMT values were evaluated according to the metabolic phenotype and factors associated with cIMT. Among the 111 participants (80 boys, 72.1%), 23 (20.7%) were classified as MHO and 88 (79.3%) as MUO. The MHO group exhibited lower glycated hemoglobin and triglyceride levels and higher HDL-C levels compared to those exhibited by the MUO group (all P<0.01). The cIMT values did not differ significantly between the MHO and MUO groups. The high cIMT tertile group revealed higher systolic BP compared to that exhibited by the low cIMT tertile group (123.7±2.1 mmHg vs. 116.9±1.6 mmHg, P=0.028). Mean cIMT was positively correlated with age (β=0.009) and body mass index (BMI) (β=0.033) after adjusting for covariates (both P<0.05). In overweight and obese Korean adolescents, cIMT was associated with age and BMI but not with metabolic phenotype or CMRFs. Further research is warranted to determine the relationship between cIMT during adolescence and cardiovascular outcomes during adulthood.