Prediktivna vrijednost preuhranjenosti u ranom otkrivanju metaboličkoga sindroma u školske djece [Predictive value of overweight in early detection of metabolic syndrome in schoolchildren]

Aim of the study was to determine predictive value of overweight in early detection of metabolic syndrome in school children. Respondents and methodology: subject in the study were 50% proportional sample of the initial cohort from a representative sample of first-grade students of elementary school year 2003/2004. Data were obtained by survey, anthropometry and laboratory blood testing. IDF criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: research analysis included 447 respondents (223 boys). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adolescents was 2.5%, and it was the highest in the group of obese adolescents (eight of 25), in the group of overweight it was three of 67. In the group of normal weight and underweight there was no determined metabolic syndrome. According to the weight status in early school age, the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found among those who were obese (four of 21); followed by overweight (three of 45), and in group of normally weighed adolescents was 1.1%. Childhood overweight, obesity and hypertension were significant predictors of metabolic syndrome in adolescence. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity during early school age is a predictor of developing metabolic syndrome during adolescence