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Do Obese Children Have Chronic Inflammation & Could This Contribute to Future CVD Risk?

  • Pediatrics (SS Gidding, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has reached significant proportions worldwide, escalating the potential for the development of co-morbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity represents a toxic low-grade inflammatory condition contributing to the pathogenesis of these comorbidities. While the detrimental health effects of the obesity-related chronic inflammatory state are extensively studied in adults, data on the long-term consequences of obesity-driven, low-grade inflammation that begins in childhood and its potential impact on future CVD are scarce. The purpose of this paper is to review: (i) the role of inflammatory factors such as hepatic acute phase proteins, cytokines and adipokines in pediatric obesity and understand whether these pose the same threat as the inflammatory profile in adults and (ii) the effectiveness of lifestyle-based therapies in improving obesity related subclinical inflammation in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jefferson School of Population Health, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Marlon D. Satchell

  2. Nemours Children’s Clinic, 807 Children’s Way, Jacksonville, FL, 32207, USA

    Karl J. Mann & Prabhakaran (Babu) Balagopal

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  1. Marlon D. Satchell
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  2. Karl J. Mann
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  3. Prabhakaran (Babu) Balagopal
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Correspondence to Prabhakaran (Babu) Balagopal.

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Satchell, M.D., Mann, K.J. & Balagopal, P.(. Do Obese Children Have Chronic Inflammation & Could This Contribute to Future CVD Risk?. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 6, 579–590 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-012-0271-z

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