Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome

In children, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) that is at or above the 95th percentile for their gender, age and height. Obesity often correlates with other conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.

Obesity in children often occurs due to genetics, lack of physical activity, poor eating habits or a combination of all three. Obesity in children may lead to serious health disorders. Obese children often become obese adults, putting them at risk for developing several chronic health conditions. Your child’s doctor can help you determine if your child is overweight or obese and can offer education about lifestyle changes to combat the condition.

A child can be obese without having metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of high-risk factors that can occur in adults and children. These risk factors are known to lead to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in adults. When these risk factors are present in children, it can be a sign that the child may develop serious health conditions as he or she gets older.

Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome

An obese child is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if a physical examination and blood tests show the child to have some or all of the following conditions:

Fat that is primarily stored in the belly
High triglycerides (fats circulating in the blood)
High blood pressure
Low HDL ("good") cholesterol
High blood sugar

Though the conditions associated with metabolic syndrome are not known to be associated with heart disease in children, both obesity and metabolic syndrome can lead to heart disease and other serious health conditions later in life such as:

Type 2 diabetes
Cancer
Stroke
High blood pressure
Respiratory problems
Joint problems
Reproductive health problems
Liver and gallbladder disease

Treatments

Treatment for obesity and metabolic syndrome focuses on chronic disease prevention and may include:

Weight management. Weight management is a long-term approach to eating healthy, increasing physical activity and losing weight.
Diet and nutrition education. Children and their families learn how to make healthy food choices and meet the body's dietary needs.
Medicines. Medicines may be used to lower triglycerides, reduce high blood pressure, raise HDL cholesterol or lower blood sugar.

Key Points to Remember

Obesity in children is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) that is at or above the 95th percentile for their gender, age and height.
An obese child is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if a physical examination and blood tests show the child to have some or all of the following conditions: belly fat, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol and high blood sugar.
A child can be obese without having metabolic syndrome.
Treatment for obesity and metabolic syndrome includes weight management, diet and nutrition education and medicines.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the links below to learn more about obesity and metabolic syndrome in children and find support groups and services.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides facts about childhood obesity.

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