Clinical and paraclinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome in children with overweight and obesity in Dong Nai province, Vietnam

Background: childhood overweight is increasingly common worldwide as are its consequences, which include increased risk of later cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been extensively studied in adults, not much is known about the condition in children and adolescents. MetS and its individual components are detectable during childhood, and both commonly persist throughout adolescence and adulthood.Objective: to determine the prevalence of MetS and cut-off values of waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) for predicting MetS in children with overweight and obesity. Methods: we conducted cross-sectional analysis of 510 children with overweight and obesity aged 10 to 15 years in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province (2012-2014). MetS diagnosis was defined according to the 2007 International Diabetes Federation definition. Results: a relationship existed between BMI and dyslipidaemia (p<0.05). Among all participants, 31.37% met the criteria for MetS (female>male, p>0.05). The most common manifestation of MetS in this study was WC-blood pressure-triglyceride (41.15%). The cut-off anthropometry values for predicting MetS were as follows: BMI of 25.00 in boys and 24.50 in girls, and WC of 82 cm in boys and 80 cm in girls. Conclusions: the prevalence of MetS was 31.37% among children with overweight and obesity. The cut-off values of WC and BMI in this study could be the optimal threshold for predicting MetS in such children aged 10 to 15 years.