KUMJ | VOL. 21 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 82 | APRIL - JUNE, 2023
Impact of Adolescent’s Obesity in Cardiac Function: An Association of Cardiac Structural and Metabolic Risk Factors with Physical Fitness
Yadav RL, Yadav LK, Mahotra NB, Sharma D
Abstract: Background
Elderly obese results metabolic, cardiac structural and functional derangements.
However, such alterations including physical fitness in early age obesity are still
controversial.
Objective
To evaluate physical fitness, cardiac structural, functional and metabolic remodeling
and their association with obesity markers in adolescents.
Method
This cross-sectional comparative study included 90 adolescents with median age
-14(2) years were grouped into Normal weight (NW) and Overweight/Obese (OW/OB)
based on the BMI percentile for age and sex. International Diabetes Federation criteria
for adolescents selected for lipid profiles, fasting sugar, systolic (SBP) and diastolic
blood pressure (DBP). Echocardiographic standard 2-dimensional measurements for
cardiac structures, percent ejection fraction (EF%) were performed with standard
procedure. Physical fitness index (PFI) was graded using the modified Harvard step
test. The data compared with Mann Whitney U test and Spearman’s Rank correlation
test used to find association among study variables.
Result
Compared to normal weight adolescents, overweight/obese individuals exhibited
significantly higher cardiac function parameters, including heart rate, systolic and
diastolic blood pressure. Within the realm of cardio-metabolic parameters, it was
observed that individuals exhibited diminished levels of high-density lipoproteins
and elevated levels of low-density lipoproteins. Notably, these individuals manifested
cardiac structural remodeling characterized by augmented left atrial wall and aortal
base thickness, and increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, concomitant
with a markedly decreased percentage of left ventricular ejection fraction. Cardiac
structural and functional parameters revealed adverse correlation with obesity
markers.
Conclusion
The onset of obesity in early age has been ascertained to exert profound ramifications,
encompassing not solely metabolic and biochemical parameters, but also extending
to the structural integrity of the cardiovascular system. These outcomes synergistically
contribute to a notable attenuation in overall physical fitness.
Keyword : Adolescent’s obesity, Body mass index percentile, Cardiac structure, Lipid profile, Physical fitness