Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional disparities between obese and non-obese children. This study presents a comparative analysis aiming to elucidate the distinctive nutritional profiles in these two groups

Methods: We undertook a comparative study involving 50 obese children (G1) and 35 normal-weight children (G2) aged 6 to 13 years. The research was conducted at the outpatient department of Bechir-Hamza Children’s Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia, from December 26, 2016, to February 1, 2017. Obesity was determined by World Health Organization growth charts sex-specific Body Mass Index for age.

Results: The average ages for G1 and G2 were 8.9±3 years and 8.1±3 years, respectively (P=0.22). Among G1, two-thirds (64%) were female. We observed that G1 had a significantly higher consumption of white bread (94% vs 80%, P=0.04) as well as cheese (50% vs 20%, P<0.01) for breakfast. Additionally, lunchtime consumption showed a higher prevalence of sodas in G1 compared to G2 (86% vs 37%, P<0.01). Furthermore, the average daily caloric intake was significantly higher in G1 (2646±320 vs 1792±340 Kcal/j, P<0.01). The diet of G1 was characterized not only by hypercaloric content but also by a lower fiber intake (G1: 19 g fiber/day vs G2: 32.9 g fiber/day, P=0.01). No significant difference was noted between the two groups regarding the intake of water-soluble vitamins. However, for fat-soluble vitamins, G1 had a significantly higher vitamin E intake (42 mg/day vs 26 mg/day, P<0.01). In terms of trace elements, iron intake was similar in both groups, whereas zinc intake was significantly greater in G1 (54 mg/day vs 20 mg/day, P<0.01). As for minerals, magnesium and sodium intake were comparable in both groups (P=0.74, P=0.12, respectively), while a significant higher intake of phosphorus, potassium and calcium was noted in G1 (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively).

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and public health initiatives to address and modify dietary behaviors among obese children.