Cureus. 2026 Aug 7;18(8):e114152. doi: 10.7759/cureus.114152. eCollection 2026 Aug.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity has emerged as a major public health concern worldwide and is associated with several cardiometabolic complications, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, previously termed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)). Data regarding the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia among Indian children with overweight and obesity remain limited. Early identification of these abnormalities may help reduce future cardiovascular risk.
METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted among 100 children with overweight or obesity aged 5-16 years who attended the pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary care center in South India between April 2018 and May 2019. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure assessment, fasting lipid profile, liver function tests, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. Postmenarchal girls were additionally evaluated for PMOS. Dyslipidemia, hypertension, and MASLD were identified according to standard criteria. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations between obesity-related comorbidities and clinical variables.
RESULTS: Among the 100 participants, 53 (53%) were female, and the mean age was 11.6 ± 2.56 years. Dyslipidemia was identified in 84 children (84%). The most common lipid abnormality was low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (57, 57%), followed by elevated triglycerides (44, 44%), elevated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (14, 14%), elevated total cholesterol (8, 8%), and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2, 2%). MASLD was detected in 32 children (32%), while hypertension was present in seven children (7%). Dyslipidemia was significantly more common among females than among males (94.3% vs. 72.3%; χ² = 8.97, p = 0.003). Hypertension was significantly more prevalent among children with obesity than among children with overweight (20% vs. 3.8%; OR = 6.42, p = 0.028). Among the 15 postmenarchal girls screened, four (26.7%) were found to have PMOS.
CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of dyslipidemia was observed among children with overweight and obesity, with low HDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia constituting the predominant pattern. The substantial burden of dyslipidemia, MASLD, hypertension, and PMOS highlights the need for early metabolic screening and targeted lifestyle interventions in children with excess adiposity.
PMID:42572639 | PMC:PMC13453331 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.114152