Influence of excess weight on metabolic risk factors in Argentinian preschool children

Abstract Objectives Evaluate the differences in metabolic risk factors in preschool children with normal weight (NWG) or with some degree of excess weight (OWG). Methods Body mass index (BMI), umbilical waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and total body fat (TBF) in children aged 1–5.9 years. The following metabolic risk factors were measured: blood pressure, fasting glycaemia, fasting serum insulin, HOMA IR Index, total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacylglycerol (TG). Results In population evaluated (n:689) MUAC, WC, TBF, HOMA IR were higher in OWG compared to NWG and significantly higher in OWG girls compared to boys (two ways ANOVA). Positive associations were found between diastolic blood pressure, insulin and HOMA IR and WC, MUAC, TBF, BMI z score in the adjusted and unadjusted model. Conclusions MUAC may emerge as an indicator with predictive power for metabolic risk and would be very useful to measure in many setting. There is a need for in-depth research into sex difference.