Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Pediatric Patients at a Mississippi Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Purpose

Assess obesity and cardiometabolic disease risk factors among a high-risk pediatric population.

Design

Observational, cross-sectional study using electronic medical records (EMR).

Setting

The only academic medical center in Mississippi.

Sample

Data were extracted for children and adolescents aged 2 through 19 years treated in primary care from 2013-2023.

Measures

Measures of height, weight, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and hemoglobin A1c were categorized to determine the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia.

Analyses

Multivariable regression models were used to establish the association between age- and sex-adjusted body mass index z-score (zBMI) and demographic characteristics. Outcomes were explored by race/ethnicity, sex, age, insurance type, visit year, and rurality.

Results

The study sample included 38 275 participants (M age = 8.9 years, SD = 5.3; 48.7% female; 45.4% non-Hispanic Black [NHB]). Half of NHB females aged 12 through 19 were either overweight (19.0 %), obese (15.9%), or severely obese (14.9%). Age was positively associated with BMI z-score (P < 0.001). Nearly 40% of all participants with a blood pressure (BP) reading had a measure consistent with elevated BP (17.1%) or hypertension (22.1%). NHB males with severe obesity had the highest prevalence of stage II hypertension (12.3%).

Conclusions

The distribution of mean zBMI values greater than zero indicated that this pediatric population contained a larger proportion of individuals with obesity than the age- and sex-matched reference population. Intervention in NHB females aged 2 through 9 with severe obesity may present the best opportunity for the prevention of severe obesity and hypertension.