Study of systemic inflammation according to abdominal wall and intra-abdominal fat thickness in overweight and non-overweight prepubertal children

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial condition associated with environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors, with increasing prevalence in Brazil. Children with excess weight have a higher cardiometabolic risk, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is related to chronic inflammation, with elevated inflammatory markers involved in the pathophysiology of these comorbidities. Abdominal fat plays a central role, being an indicator of cardiometabolic risk in pediatrics. Objective: To compare groups of children with and without increased thickness of the abdominal wall and intra-abdominal fat in relation to BMI Z-score and inflammatory adipokines. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with prepubertal children, with and without excess weight, divided into four groups according to abdominal wall fat thickness and intra-abdominal fat measured by ultrasonography: both greater than P75; both less than P75; only the first greater than P75; and only the second greater than P75. The groups were compared in relation to BMI Z-score, IL-6, TNF-a, and CRP. Results: There were no differences between the groups regarding age and sex. A significant difference was observed in relation to IL-6, TNF-a, and CRP levels, with increased values in the groups with isolated or concomitant increase of intra-abdominal fat and/or abdominal wall fat, compared to groups with normal measurements. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that greater thickness of the abdominal wall and intra-abdominal fat is associated with increased inflammatory markers and BMI Z-score, indicating higher cardiometabolic risk in children with excess weight.