Weight loss induced by 6-month lifestyle intervention improves early endothelial activation and fibrinolysis in obese adolescents

Background Adolescent obesity is associated with an increased risk of adult obesity and subsequent cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to assess the effect of weight loss after 6‐month lifestyle intervention in obese adolescents on biomarkers of endothelial activation and fibrinolytic system. Methods Eighty‐five obese adolescents aged 10 to 16 years were assigned to a 6‐month lifestyle intervention and 61 completed the programme. We examined the effect of the intervention on adhesion molecules (selectin E, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1) and fibrinolytic parameters [plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) and fibrinogen]. Thirty‐six lean adolescents were studied only at baseline as a comparison group. Results Compared with lean participants, obese adolescents at baseline demonstrated significantly higher levels of triglycerides, glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, PAI‐1 and fibrinogen. After 6‐month lifestyle intervention, those obese adolescents with decreased standard deviation score‐body mass index (SDS‐BMI) displayed significant decreases in insulin (19.2 ± 11.2 vs. 26.8 ± 13.2 mU/L, P≤ 0.01), homeostasis model assessment (4.24 ± 3.19 vs. 6.58 ± 4.08, P≤ 0.01), selectin E (100.2 ± 60.9 vs. 116.0 ± 69.0 ng/mL, P≤ 0.01) and PAI‐1 (39.6 ± 38.0 vs. 51.8 ± 25.6 ng/mL, P≤ 0.05) with respect to the baseline levels. No changes in these parameters were observed in the obese adolescents with stable or increased SDS‐BMI. The changes of triglycerides after intervention in subgroup with decreased SDS‐BMI were significantly greater than those in subgroup with stable SDS‐BMI. Conclusions The present study demonstrated increased endothelial activation and impairment of the fibrinolytic system in early life, which is in part reversible by a 6‐month lifestyle intervention.