The inflammatory process of adipose tissue

Obesity and inflammation are highly integrated processes in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The evidence that obesity can be regarded as an inflammatory disease comes from numerous studies showing a moderate increase of circulating inflammatory factors in obese patients and the identification of different types of immune cells infiltrating the human adipose tissue. Obesity may induce a pro-inflammatory state, which can cause or worsen insulin resistance in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver. The causative factors of this inflammation process in obesity are not entirely understood, but adipose tissue seems to play an important role in the relationship between obesity and chronic inflammation. Increased infiltration of adipose tissue with immune cells could cause adipose tissue insulin resistance via autocrine and paracrine cytokine/adipokine signalling, which contributes to systemically decreased insulin sensitivity via endocrine signalling. On the other hand, obesity-induced inflammation could represent a compensatory mechanism for increased adipose tissue turnover in obese states, which might protect obese individuals against deleterious effects of fat accumulation. A better understanding of the mechanisms and molecular components of obesity induced inflammatory response might lead to identifying novel therapeutic targets to prevent obesity-related complications.     

Maternal prompts to eat, child compliance, and mother and child weight status

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a relationship between maternal prompting to eat, child compliance, and mother and child weight. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-one 3- to 6-year-old children and their mothers were videotaped tasting four foods (two familiar, two novel). Maternal prompts to eat and the child's compliance with the prompts were coded. Multiple logistic regression evaluated demographic, anthropometric, and food characteristics that predicted prompting and compliance; and demographic, behavioral, and food characteristics that predicted child body mass index Z score (BMIz) in the children of obese and non-obese mothers. RESULTS: Obese mothers did not prompt more than non-obese mothers, but children of obese mothers were more compliant (70.2% +/- 19.4 v 59.6% +/- 21.2, P = .04). Low maternal education, a novel food, and younger child age predicted prompting. Maternal obesity, a familiar food, and older child age predicted compliance. In children of obese mothers, low maternal education, more prompts to eat novel foods, fewer prompts to eat familiar foods, and fewer child bites of familiar foods predicted child BMIz (R(2) = 64%). In children of non-obese mothers, none of the covariates predicted child BMIz. CONCLUSIONS: Children of obese mothers may be more responsive to environmental cues to eat.     

Increased incidence of perforated appendicitis in children with obesity

Based on their clinical impression, the authors hypothesized that children with obesity may more commonly present with perforated appendicitis. Therefore, the authors reviewed their experience from 2008 to 2010 to determine whether obesity affected the clinical presentation of appendicitis. Variables studied were height, weight, use of diagnostic imaging, and clinical findings of appendicitis at presentation. Outcomes assessed were length of stay and complication rate. The study identified 319 patients with appendicitis. Children with obesity were more likely (P = .026) to present with perforation (28/62, 45%) than nonobese patients (78/257, 30%). Neither length of stay nor complication rate was affected by the presence of obesity. The data suggest that children with obesity are more likely to present with perforated appendicitis. This finding suggests that the diagnosis of appendicitis may be more difficult in obese patients or their presentation may be delayed. Practitioners should have heightened awareness in children with obesity and symptoms of abdominal pain.     

Sleep and obesity in children and adolescents

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive update of epidemiologic studies that have assessed the association between sleep and obesity risk. Data suggest that short sleep is associated with an increased risk for being or becoming overweight/obese or having increased body fat. Late bedtimes are also a risk factor for overweight/obesity. Findings also suggest that changes in eating pathways may lead to increased body fat. Future experimental studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which sleep may play a role in the development and maintenance of childhood obesity.     

Inadequate leptin level negatively affects body fat loss during a weight reduction programme for childhood obesity

Obesity is a typical example of a complex multifactorial disease arising from behavioural, environmental and genetic factors that may affect individual responses to dietary intake and physical activity. Observational, longitudinal dietary interventional studies in obese patients present contrasting reports on the predictive value of baseline leptin levels. We report on the effect of a weight reduction programme in three different groups of obese children (82 patients in all) assembled on the basis of their baseline leptin levels adjusted for body mass index (BMI), gender and pubertal development. The effectiveness of this programme was decreased in patients with relative hyperleptinaemia or hypoleptinaemia compared to children with baseline leptin levels appropriate to BMI gender and pubertal development.

Conclusion : Information gained from leptin assays could provide predictive insight into an individual's ability to lose body fat and may therefore have important implications for our approach to the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity.     

Genetics and the pathophysiology of obesity

Obesity is a complex disease that involves interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Obesity results from an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure over several years. The genetic approach both in animal models and in humans has allowed immense progress in the understanding of body weight regulation. Monogenic forms of obesity in humans have been characterized and result from mutations in genes involved in the central pathways of food intake regulation. However, these cases are extremely rare and generally obesity must be considered as a complex polygenic disease involving interactions between multiple genes and the environment. Numerous studies, including studies in children, have tried to identify "susceptibility" genes. At present, the results are not conclusive inasmuch as they are highly variable between studies and because the relative risk associating a specific gene allele and obesity remains low. Thus, it seems highly premature to genotype obese patients on a large scale for predictive testing. When specific pharmacological treatments based on recent discoveries become available, however, genetic testing could help discriminate between the subtypes of obesity that may respond differentially to treatment.     

母孕期肥胖对胎儿-新生儿的影响及管理

肥胖已成为21世纪影响人类健康的最大问题之一.孕妇的肥胖对其子代会产生明显的不良影响.肥胖孕妇的死产和胎儿先天畸形发生率明显增高,剖宫分娩尤其是急诊剖宫产率明显增加.肥胖母亲自身的代谢和营养状况会对子宫内环境产生影响,使胎儿的基因发生表观遗传学的改变,从而对子代产生长期的影响,到成年时出现肥胖、心血管疾病、2型糖尿病等.因此,减少孕龄妇女的肥胖或控制孕期体重过度增加,将大幅减少肥胖对胎儿的影响,减少成年时肥胖、糖尿病、心血管疾病和代谢综合征的发生.     

Childhood obesity

Several conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the research reviewed: Obese children are more likely to become obese adults than are their thinner peers. Parent weight may interact with child weight status in the etiology of adult obesity. Obese children with obese parents are more likely to become obese adults than are obese children with thin parents. The prediction of adult obesity from childhood obesity improves with the age of the child. As the obese child gets older, he or she is more likely to become an obese adult. The inclusion of parents in the treatment process is important for the success of childhood weight control. It may be best to see the parent and child separately in treatment meetings rather than together. Children with thin parents may do better in weight control than children of obese parents. Adherence to exercise is likely to be a problem with obese children, and the choice or design of an exercise program should take these adherence problems into account. Nutritional adequacy of the child's diet should be evaluated both in terms of what the child is eating as well as in terms of the prescribed diet. Likewise, growth of the obese child during dieting should be monitored and should be related to expected height, which can be based on parent height. In summary, childhood obesity is a problem that places a child at great risk for becoming an obese adult. However, a growing body of research has emerged that has identified important risk factors for the development of obesity in children. Likewise, treatment methods have been developed that produce significant and long-lasting effects on childhood weight status. Continued development of treatment methods would be of great potential importance in the prevention and treatment of this prevalent problem.     

The consequences of childhood overweight and obesity

Researchers are only gradually becoming aware of the gravity of the risk that overweight and obesity pose for children's health. In this article Stephen Daniels documents the heavy toll that the obesity epidemic is taking on the health of the nation's children. He discusses both the immediate risks associated with childhood obesity and the longer-term risk that obese children and adolescents will become obese adults and suffer other health problems as a result. Daniels notes that many obesity-related health conditions once thought applicable only to adults are now being seen in children and with increasing frequency. Examples include high blood pressure, early symptoms of hardening of the arteries, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary disorder, and disordered breathing during sleep. He systematically surveys the body's systems, showing how obesity in adulthood can damage each and how childhood obesity exacerbates the damage. He explains that obesity can harm the cardiovascular system and that being overweight during childhood can accelerate the development of heart disease. The processes that lead to a heart attack or stroke start in childhood and often take decades to progress to the point of overt disease. Obesity in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood may accelerate these processes. Daniels shows how much the same generalization applies to other obesity-related disorders-metabolic, digestive, respiratory, skeletal, and psychosocial-that are appearing in children either for the first time or with greater severity or prevalence. Daniels notes that the possibility has even been raised that the increasing prevalence and severity of childhood obesity may reverse the modern era's steady increase in life expectancy, with today's youth on average living less healthy and ultimately shorter lives than their parents-the first such reversal in lifespan in modern history. Such a possibility, he concludes, makes obesity in children an issue of utmost public health concern.     

Prevalence of Obesity Among Patients With Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease

Overweight and obesity rates have risen dramatically in the United States, with subsequent detrimental comorbidity risks. The rates for obesity among children with congenital and acquired heart disease have rarely been reported. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with heart disease and to identify subgroups at increased risk. A total of 795 cases were identified from a chart review of patients presenting to an urban center’s Pediatric Cardiology Program between 1 January and 31 December 2006. A body mass index (BMI) at the 85th percentile or higher was defined as overweight, and a BMI at the 95th percentile or higher was defined as obese. Subjects with comorbidities affecting body habitus were excluded from the study. Overall, overweight and obesity rates were similar to national data. No significant differences in overweight or obesity rates were detected between heart disease and non-heart disease groups (P = 0.50). According to multivariate analysis, Hispanic ethnicity and male gender were the only predictors of obesity. This study shows that children with heart disease are not immune to the common predictors of obesity such as gender and ethnicity and that the future care of children with heart disease should include general discussions about the risks for obesity.     

Recommendations for prevention of childhood obesity

The majority of US youth are of healthy weight, but the majority of US adults are overweight or obese. Therefore, a major health challenge for most American children and adolescents is obesity prevention-today, and as they age into adulthood. In this report, we review the most recent evidence regarding many behavioral and practice interventions related to childhood obesity, and we present recommendations to health care providers. Because of the importance, we also suggest approaches that clinicians can use to encourage obesity prevention among children, including specific counseling strategies and practice-based, systems-level interventions. In addition, we suggest how clinicians may interact with and promote local and state policy initiatives designed to prevent obesity in their communities.     

乌鲁木齐市家长喂养行为现状及其与儿童体重指数的相关性

目的 探讨家长喂养行为与儿童体重指数（BMI）间的相关性,为预防和干预儿童超重、肥胖提供科学依据。方法 采用分层随机整群抽样的方法,抽取乌鲁木齐市新市区7所幼儿园976名儿童,通过问卷调查和体格测量获得相关数据。结果 共发放调查问卷976份,收回有效问卷924份（94.7%）。儿童体重不足、超重、肥胖总检出率分别为3.1%（29例）、9.2%（85例）、6.7%（62例）。家长喂养行为以监督饮食水平最高,其次为限制饮食,逼迫进食水平最低。其中汉族儿童家长采用限制饮食及逼迫进食的水平高于维吾尔族儿童家长（P < 0.01）。家长喂养行为中,限制饮食与汉族及维吾尔族男童BMI均呈正相关（P < 0.01）;逼迫进食与汉族男童及女童BMI均呈负相关（P < 0.01）,与维吾尔族男童及女童BMI均呈正相关（P < 0.01）;监督饮食与维吾尔族和汉族男童及女童BMI均呈负相关（P < 0.05）。汉族及维吾尔族男童中超重/肥胖儿童其父母限制饮食得分高于正常体重儿童家长（P < 0.05）;维吾尔族男童及女童中,超重/肥胖儿童其父母逼迫进食得分高于正常体重儿童其家长（P < 0.01）;汉族、维吾尔族男童及女童中超重及肥胖儿童其父母监督饮食得分低于正常体重儿童家长（P < 0.01）。结论 乌鲁木齐市家长喂养行为状况总体较好,其中维吾尔族儿童家长喂养行为略优于汉族儿童家长。家长喂养行为与儿童BMI密切相关,其相关性在不同民族及性别间存在差异。高水平的监督饮食及低水平的限制饮食、逼迫进食可能有利于预防和控制儿童超重、肥胖的发生与发展。     

Glucose homeostasis in Prader-Willi syndrome and potential implications of growth hormone therapy

Diabetes mellitus is becoming a more frequently recognized complication of Prader-Willi syndrome. It has been reported that as many as 7-20% of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome may develop this complication. Diabetes mellitus adds to the complexity of an already complex treatment program, causes many serious complications that greatly affect the quality of life of these individuals, and can lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Recent studies suggest that growth hormone (GH) might offer significant advantages to individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. However, as a known diabetogenic agent, GH might also increase the propensity to develop diabetes mellitus. For this reason, the characteristics of the diabetes mellitus that develops in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome must be studied and fully understood. The initial assumption has been that the diabetes mellitus associated with this syndrome is identical to that seen in obese individuals without Prader-Willi syndrome, in whom genetic factors and obesity lead to insulin resistance. Severe insulin resistance in turn leads to pancreatic failure and hence the symptom complex of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To determine if this same pattern is present in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, we evaluated both obese children and adults with the syndrome. These patients were compared with obese individuals without Prader-Willi syndrome matched for age, gender and weight and who had not yet developed diabetes but had equally longstanding obesity. We compared the glucose and insulin responses of these two groups, using both oral and intravenous glucose challenges. The results demonstrated that individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome do not show the predicted insulin resistance that is seen in obese children without the syndrome. In fact, the individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome showed normal or increased insulin sensitivity. These data do not support the hypothesis that the high incidence of diabetes mellitus in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome is simply the result of obesity and therefore suggest a different aetiology.     

Obesity in pediatric oncology

Today's obesity pandemic began in the United States, spread to Western Europe and other developed regions, and is emerging in developing countries. Its influences on outcomes of childhood cancer are unknown. A recent Children's Oncology Group symposium considered epidemiology of obesity, pharmacology of chemotherapy and outcomes in obese adults with cancer, excess mortality in obese pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and complications in obese survivors. The salient points are summarized herein. Body mass index (BMI) is the accepted index of weight for height and age. In the US, obesity prevalence (BMI > 95th centile) is increasing in all pediatric age groups and accelerating fastest among black and Hispanic adolescents. Pharmacologic investigations are few and limited: half-life, volume of distribution, and clearance in obese patients vary between drugs. Obese adults with solid tumors generally experience less toxicity, suggesting underdosing. For patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation, obese adults generally experience greater toxicity. In pediatric acute myeloblastic leukemia, obese patients have greater treatment-related mortality (TRM), similar toxicity and relapse rates, and inferior survival compared with patients who are not obese. An excess of female survivors of childhood leukemia who received cranial irradiation are obese. Ongoing treatment effects of childhood cancer may predispose to a sedentary lifestyle. These findings call for measures to prevent obesity, retrospective and prospective studies of chemotherapy pharmacology of analyzed according to BMI and outcomes, additional studies of the obesity impact on outcomes in pediatric cancer, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle among survivors.     

Decreased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in black obese children

OBJECTIVES: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of pediatric liver disease. Studies suggest decreased prevalence in blacks, females, and younger children. However, the proportion of black subjects in these studies was small, and children under 12 were not included. We propose that abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is more common in whites than blacks, males than females, and children over 12 compared with younger children in a prospective study. METHODS: We enrolled 181 consecutive asymptomatic obese children attending general pediatric clinics who denied recent fever or known liver disease. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) z score of greater than 1.64 (95th percentile for age and sex). Elevated ALT was defined as greater than 40 U/L. BMI z score, race, sex, age, and parental obesity were compared using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The population included 81 males and 100 females, 147 non-Hispanic black, 33 non-Hispanic white, and 1 Hispanic white. Elevated ALT occurred in 14 (8%) subjects. White children were significantly more likely to have abnormal ALT (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0, P < .02). Very obese children (BMI z score >2.3) were more likely to have abnormal ALT compared with mildly obese children (OR = 4.0, P < 0.05). Sex, age, hepatomegaly, acanthosis nigricans, and parental obesity did not significantly predict elevated ALT. CONCLUSION: Eight percent of asymptomatic, obese children had an elevated ALT suggestive of NAFLD. White and very obese children are more likely to be affected. Sex and age are not good clinical predictors of NAFLD. We suggest that all obese children be screened for NAFLD.     

儿童肥胖与颈动脉内膜-中层厚度及动脉扩张功能

为了解动脉粥样硬化疾病是否在儿童期即有开始，研究了肥胖儿童颈动脉内膜—中层厚度及动脉扩张功能。选择27例单纯性肥胖症儿童和16例正常对照儿童，通过家族史调查，生化分析法检测血脂、血液粘度以及超声测定颈动脉内膜—中层厚度及脓动脉舒缩顺应性。结果发现肥胖者在儿童期颈动脉内膜—中层的厚度已经开始增加，内皮依赖性动脉扩张功能降低，并可以合并高脂血症和高脂蛋白血症。提示儿童的肥胖、脂质代谢异常导致动脉血管壁损伤；动脉粥样硬化是小儿时期得病、成人发病的一种疾病。预防冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病，须从儿童期开始防治肥胖症，超声检查颈动脉内膜中层厚度简便、安全无创，可以作为早期发现冠心病一个良好的预报因子。     

Obesity in the pediatric patient: cardiovascular complications

The prevalence and severity of obesity are increasing in children and adolescents. This raises concerns about the accompanying cardiovascular complications. Such complications include hypertension, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes which may accelerate vascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension due to obstructive sleep apnea. The evaluation of an obese child or adolescent should include careful consideration of these possible cardiovascular complications. If they are present, treatment should be directed at both obesity and the risk factor abnormality. This treatment may be important for prevention of future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, research is necessary to better understand the mechanisms by which obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.     

Obesity in adolescents with celiac disease: two adolescents and two different presentations

Celiac disease (CD) usually presents with diarrhea and growth retardation in childhood. Obesity is one of the paradoxical conditions in children with CD. We present two adolescents with CD and obesity. One of these patients was diagnosed as CD with malnutrition. His body weight had returned to normal after a gluten-free diet, and after stopping the diet, he had become obese. The second patient was an obese adolescent presenting with dyspeptic symptoms who was diagnosed as CD. Although rare, pediatricians should remember that obesity might be seen in CD before or after the diagnosis.     

Secondary narcolepsy may be a causative factor of increased daytime sleepiness in obese childhood craniopharyngioma patients

Prognosis in childhood craniopharyngioma survivors hinges upon late effects such as pituitary deficiency and obesity. Observations indicate that reduced physical activity and increased daytime sleepiness might be risk factors for obesity. We analyzed the degree of daytime sleepiness in 115 childhood craniopharyngioma patients (47% obese) using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Thirty-five (30%) displayed increased daytime sleepiness (ESS score > 10) of whom 14 were obese (26% of obese cohort). Polysomnography (PSG) and Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT) were conducted with 10 obese patients presenting increased daytime sleepiness, with only two craniopharyngioma patients revealing a sleep related breathing disorder. Four patients had repeated episodes of SOREM (sleep onset rapid eye movement), the classic PSG criterion for narcolepsy. Three patients displayed hypersomnia. All but one patient qualified as acutely obese. We speculate that secondary narcolepsy is an exacerbating condition of childhood craniopharyngioma obesity, supported by recent reports on orexin and narcolepsy which suggest hypothalamic failure in idiopathic narcolepsy.