451 STATURE AND OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

BackgroundOverweight in childhood has been associated with accelerated linear growth in prepubertal children. Childhood obesity increases the risk for adult short stature.ObjectivesTo compare stature in a group of overweight children and adolescents with CDC 2000 growth charts for normal weight.MethodsThis study includes baseline anthropometric data from 416 patients with a body mass index ≥ 95th percentile, in good health except for their obesity, referred to our lifestyle modification program. Study population was divided into two age groups: A, 8 to 11 years, and B, 12 to 16 years. Stature-for-age Z-score (zstatage) was used for comparisons.ResultsGroup A was composed of 206 subjects, mean age 10.2 ± 1.1 years, and group B of 210 subjects; both groups were similar in ethnic distribution (Hispanic, 53%; Caucasian, 24%; African American, 11%; and other races, 12%). Boys and girls from group A were significantly taller than their normal-weight peers. In group B only boys were significantly taller than their normal weight peers. Data are summarized in the table. ConclusionIn these overweight pediatric patients the mean stature-for-age z-score for height was statistically higher in all subgroups except in girls 12 to 16 years, suggesting that body mass index is not negatively impacting the linear growth.