Prevalence and characteristics of the metabolically healthy obese phenotype in children and adolescents in a Mexican state

To determine the prevalence of the Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO), and Metabolically Obese Normal-Weight (MONW) phenotypes in a sample of children and adolescents. To evaluate which clinical and laboratory variables are related to the MONW and MHO phenotypes. A cross-sectional study was carried out in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old, presumably healthy. Somatometry, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HOMA-IR, triglycerides/HDL ratio, triglycerides and glucose index, and leptin/adiponectin, were determined. Data from 620 children and adolescents were included (50.65% were males); the median age was 11 years. The prevalence of the MONW phenotype was 22.85% (95%CI 16.85%-29.79%), and the MHO phenotype 27.61% (95%CI 22.60%-33.06%). The variables that significantly explained the possibility of presenting the MONW and MHO phenotype were triglycerides/HDL ratio, and product of triglycerides and glucose. Insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with the MHO phenotype but not with the MONW phenotype. Prevalence of metabolically healthy obese phenotype is lower in the Mexican population compared to European studies; thus, future studies should determine if this difference relies upon genetic profile or lifestyle. The indices to assess the action of insulin based on lipids can help identify children and adolescents with the MHO and MONW phenotypes. Determinar la prevalencia de los fenotipos obeso metabólicamente sano (OMS) y metabólicamente obeso con peso normal (MOPN) en una muestra de niños y adolescentes. Evaluar qué variables clínicas y analíticas están relacionadas con los fenotipos OMS y MOPN. Se realizó un estudio transversal en niños y adolescentes de seis-18 años de edad presumiblemente sanos. Se determinaron las características antropométricas, la glucosa, la insulina, los triglicéridos, el colesterol HDL, el colesterol LDL, el HOMA-IR, el cociente triglicéridos/HDL, el índice triglicéridos-glucosa y la leptina/adiponectina. Se incluyeron los datos de 620 niños y adolescentes (el 50,65% varones) con una mediana de edad de 11 años. La prevalencia del fenotipo MOPN fue del 22,85% (IC al 95%, 16,85-29,79%), y la del fenotipo OMS del 27,61% (IC al 95%, 22,60-33,06%). Las variables que explicaban significativamente la posibilidad de presentar el fenotipo MOPN y el OMS eran el cociente triglicéridos/HDL y el producto de triglicéridos y glucosa. La insulina y el HOMA-IR estaban significativamente asociados