Tenna Ruest Haarmark Nielsen

Changes in lipidemia during chronic care treatment of childhood obesity.

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity and related co-morbidities are increasing. This intervention study assessed the associations between weight changes and lipidemia in obese children and adolescents. METHODS A total of 240 obese children and adolescents (median age, 11.3 years; range, 3.9-20.9) were enrolled in a best-practice multidisciplinary chronic care treatment program. The concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TGs) and anthropometric data comprising height and weight were collected at baseline and after up to 39 months of continuous treatment. RESULTS The BMI standard deviation score (SDS) decreased in 51% of patients and maintained unchanged in 32% of patients during the treatment. At baseline, 65 (27.1%) of the patients exhibited dyslipidemia defined as increased concentrations of total cholesterol (>200 mg/dL), LDL (>130 mg/dL), or TGs (>150 mg/dL), or decreased HDL concentration (<35 mg/dL). Dyslipidemia improved with weight loss; the odds ratio (OR) was 0.37 per BMI SDS (p = 0.014) after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline BMI SDS. Baseline TG concentration correlated positively and HDL concentration correlated negatively with baseline BMI SDS. Weight loss was associated with a decrease in the concentrations of total cholesterol (p = 0.0005), LDL (p < 0.0001), non-HDL (p < 0.0001), and TGs (p < 0.0001), and with an increase in HDL concentration (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION High lipid concentrations were associated with childhood obesity. The lipid profile improved during weight loss independently of the baseline BMI SDS and baseline lipid concentration.

Muscle fat content and abdominal adipose tissue distribution investigated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging in obese children and youths

The degree of fat deposition in muscle and its implications for obesity-related complications in children and youths are not well understood. One hundred and fifty-nine patients (mean age: 13.3 years; range: 6–20) with a body mass index (BMI) >90th percentile for age and sex were included. Muscle fat content (MFC) was measured in the psoas muscle by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The patients were assigned to two groups: MFC <5% or ≥5%. Visceral adipose tissue volume (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue volume (SAT) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The data were analysed to detect associations between MFC and BMI standard deviation scores, VAT and SAT, blood values, pubertal stages, and physical activity scores. The mean BMI standard deviation score (SDS) was 3.04 (range 1.32–5.02). The mean MFC was 8.9% (range 0.8–46.7), and 118 (74.2%) of 159 patients had an MFC ≥5%. Children with an MFC ≥5%, compared with children with an MFC <5%, had a higher BMI SDS (P=0.03), a higher VAT (P=0.04), and elevated intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) contents (both P<0.0001). SAT, SAT/VAT ratio, blood values, pubertal stages and physical activity scores did not differ between the two groups. Severely obese children and youths tend to have a high MFC, which is associated with elevated VAT, IMCL, and EMCL contents. An increased MFC may be associated with impaired metabolic processes, which may predispose these young people to obesity-related complications.

The Impact of Familial Predisposition to Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease on Childhood Obesity

The prevalence of childhood obesity has reached alarming rates world-wide. The aetiology seems to be an interplay between genetic and environmental factors, and a surrogate measure of this complex interaction is suggested as familial predisposition. Familial predisposition to obesity and related cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications constitute the presence of obesity and/or obesity-related complications in primarily blood-related family members. The approaches of its measurement and applicability vary, and the evidence especially of its influence on obesity and obesity treatment in childhood is limited. Studies have linked a familial predisposition of obesity, CVD (hypertension, dyslipidaemia and thromboembolic events), and type 2 diabetes mellitus to BMI as well as other adiposity measures in children, suggesting degrees of familial aggregation of metabolic derangements. A pattern of predispositions arising from mothers, parents or grandparents as being most influential have been found, but further comprehensive studies are needed in order to specify the exact implications of familial predisposition. In the scope of childhood obesity this article reviews the current literature regarding familial predisposition to obesity and obesity-related complications, and how these familial predispositions may impact obesity in the offspring.

Liver fat content investigated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in obese children and youths included in multidisciplinary treatment.

What is already known about this subject •  Investigations of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by non‐invasive imaging procedures have limited evidence. •  Thirty percent of obese children are estimated to have NAFLD and implications for future morbidity are uncertain.

A hospital-based child and adolescent overweight and obesity treatment protocol transferred into a community healthcare setting

Background Due to the pandemic of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, improvements in overweight and obesity treatment availability and accessibility are needed. Methods In this prospective study, we investigated if reductions in body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS) and waist circumference (WC) would occur during 1.5 years of community-based overweight and obesity treatment based upon an effective hospital-based overweight and obesity treatment protocol, The Children’s Obesity Clinics’ Treatment protocol. Height, weight, and WC were measured at all consultations. Changes in BMI SDS and WC were analyzed using linear mixed models based upon the repeated measures in each child. Results From June 2012 to January 2015, 1,001 children (455 boys) were consecutively enrolled in the community-based treatment program. Upon entry, the median age was 11 years (range: 3−18), and the median BMI SDS was 2.85 (range: 1.26−8.96) in boys and 2.48 (range: 1.08−4.41) in girls. After 1.5 years of treatment BMI SDS was reduced in 74% of the children. BMI SDS was reduced by a mean of 0.38 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30−0.45, p<0.0001) in boys and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.12−0.25, p<0.0001) in girls after 1.5 years of treatment, independently of baseline age, BMI SDS, and Tanner stage (all p>0.08). WC was reduced by a mean of 3.8 cm (95% CI: 2.7−4.9, p>0.0001) in boys and 5.1 cm (95% CI: 4.0−6.2, p>0.0001) in girls. The dropout rate was 31% after 1.5 years. A median of 4.5 consultation hours was invested per child per year. Conclusion BMI SDS and WC were reduced after 1.5 years of treatment. Hence, this community-based overweight and obesity treatment program may help accommodate the need for improvements in treatment availability and accessibility.

Effects of a Family-Based Childhood Obesity Treatment Program on Parental Weight Status

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity among parents of children entering childhood obesity treatment and to evaluate changes in the parents’ weight statuses during their child’s treatment. Methods The study included parents of 1,125 children and adolescents aged 3–22 years, who were enrolled in a multidisciplinary childhood obesity treatment program. At baseline, weight and height of the parents were obtained by self-reported information and parental body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Weight and height of the children were measured in the clinic and BMI standard deviation scores were calculated. Furthermore, anthropometric data from parents of 664 children were obtained by telephone interview after a mean of 2.5 years of treatment (ranging 16 days to 7 years), and changes in parental BMI were analyzed. Results Data on changes in BMI were available in 606 mothers and 479 fathers. At baseline, the median BMI of the mothers was 28.1 kg/m2 (range: 16.9–66.6), and the median BMI of the fathers was 28.9 kg/m2 (range: 17.2–48.1). Seventy percent of the mothers and 80% of the fathers were overweight or obese at the time of their child’s treatment initiation. Both the mothers and fathers lost weight during their child’s treatment with a mean decrease in BMI in the mothers of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.2–0.8, p = 0.0006) and in the fathers of 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2–0.6, p = 0.0007). Of the overweight/obese parents, 60% of the mothers and 58% of the fathers lost weight during their child’s treatment. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among parents of children entering childhood obesity treatment. Family-based childhood obesity treatment with a focus on the child has a positive effect on parental BMI with both mothers and fathers losing weight. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00928473

Obesity is associated with vitamin D deficiency in Danish children and adolescents.

Abstract Background: Sufficient serum concentrations of vitamin D are required to maintain bone health during growth. The aims of this study were to determine whether vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent among children and adolescents with obesity compared to their normal weight peers and to identify clinical and biochemical variables associated with vitamin D deficiency. Methods: One thousand four hundred and eighty-four children and adolescents with overweight/obesity and 2143 population-based controls were recruited from the Danish Childhood Obesity Biobank. Anthropometric variables and fasting concentrations of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D), plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphate were assessed at baseline. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OH-D concentrations <30 nmol/L. Linear and logistic regressions were used to identify variables associated with vitamin D deficiency. Results: A total of 16.5% of the children and adolescents with obesity (body mass index [BMI] standard deviation score [SDS]>2.33) exhibited vitamin D deficiency, with an odds ratio (OR) 3.41 (confidence interval [CI]: 2.27–5.71; p<0.0001) for being vitamin D deficient compared to their normal weight peers. BMI-SDS was independently and inversely associated with serum 25-OH-D concentrations. Other independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency were being older than 14 years (OR: 2.39; CI: 1.28–4.48; p=0.006), more than 4 daily hours of screen time (OR: 4.56; CI: 2.59–8.05; p<0.0001) and blood sample assessment during winter-spring (OR: 6.44; CI: 4.47–9.26; p<0.0001). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was common among Danish children and adolescents with obesity. The degree of obesity was independently associated with lower serum 25-OH-D concentrations.

A genome-wide association study of thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine in Danish children and adolescents

Background Hypothyroidism is associated with obesity, and thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of body composition, including fat mass. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in adults have identified 19 and 6 loci associated with plasma concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4), respectively. Objective This study aimed to identify and characterize genetic variants associated with circulating TSH and fT4 in Danish children and adolescents and to examine whether these variants associate with obesity. Methods Genome-wide association analyses of imputed genotype data with fasting plasma concentrations of TSH and fT4 from a population-based sample of Danish children, adolescents, and young adults, and a group of children, adolescents, and young adults with overweight and obesity were performed (N = 1,764, mean age = 12.0 years [range 2.5−24.7]). Replication was performed in additional comparable samples (N = 2,097, mean age = 11.8 years [1.2−22.8]). Meta-analyses, using linear additive fixed-effect models, were performed on the results of the discovery and replication analyses. Results No novel loci associated with TSH or fT4 were identified. Four loci previously associated with TSH in adults were confirmed in this study population (PDE10A (rs2983511: β = 0.112SD, p = 4.8 ∙ 10−16), FOXE1 (rs7847663: β = 0.223SD, p = 1.5 ∙ 10−20), NR3C2 (rs9968300: β = 0.194SD), p = 2.4 ∙ 10−11), VEGFA (rs2396083: β = 0.088SD, p = 2.2 ∙ 10−10)). Effect sizes of variants known to associate with TSH or fT4 in adults showed a similar direction of effect in our cohort of children and adolescents, 11 of which were associated with TSH or fT4 in our study (p<0.0002). None of the TSH or fT4 associated SNPs were associated with obesity in our cohort, indicating no pleiotropic effects of these variants on obesity. Conclusion In a group of Danish children and adolescents, four loci previously associated with plasma TSH concentrations in adults, were associated with plasma TSH concentrations in children, suggesting comparable genetic determinants of thyroid function in adults and children.

Reference values for fasting serum resistin in healthy children and adolescents

BACKGROUND Resistin is a hormone, mainly produced in macrophages and monocytes, believed to play an important role in the inflammatory response. It has been linked to several chronic diseases such as heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, and insulin resistance. Pediatric reference levels are needed for the risk stratification and interpretation of individual serum resistin concentrations. METHODS A total of 1191 healthy, non-obese Danish schoolchildren (727 girls) aged 6-18years (median 11.9) were included. Fasting serum resistin concentrations were quantitated by Human Resistin ELISA Development kit, Duo Set (R&D Systems) following optimization. RESULTS The overall median resistin concentration was 8.93ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR): 6.19-13.33, range 1.57-35.84) in boys and 10.42ng/mL (IQR: 7.25-15.68, range 1.60-44.00) in girls. The resistin concentration correlated to relative BMI in both boys (p=0.02) and girls (p<0.0001). Percentiles for each age group were calculated alongside smoothed percentile curves and an age correlated increase was demonstrated, albeit only in girls (p=0.02) and not in boys (p=0.35). CONCLUSION Fasting serum resistin concentrations differ between sexes in healthy children and adolescents and are correlated both with the sex- and age adjusted BMI, and in girls to age.

Impaired fasting glucose and the metabolic profile in Danish children and adolescents with normal weight, overweight, or obesity

Whether the definitions of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) differentially impact estimates of the metabolic profile and IFG‐related comorbidities in Danish children and adolescents is unknown.