OBJETIVE: To describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity according to standards proposed by literature. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comprising a total of 74 children and adolescents aged six to 17 years old and recruited for an interventional study. Anthropometric data (weight, height, body mass index and waist circumference), laboratorial data (lipid profile and fasting glycemia) and blood pressure were obtained. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was determined by four criteria usually adopted, as observed in a systematic review (MS1 to MS4). Differences between the proportions of children diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to the different classifications were studied, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome ranged between 55.6% (95%CI 43.4-67.1%) and 74.0% (95% CI 62.2-83.2%), according to the chosen clinical definitions, being higher when more sensitive cut-off points were applied. Body mass index adoption as an anthropometric criterion did not interfere on metabolic syndrome diagnosis, and the observed prevalence was high (52.7%), regardless of the clinical definition. Abdominal obesity and hipertriglyceridemia were the most common observed abnormalities, and hyperglycemia had the lower prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic changes were prevalent in the studied population and overweight seems to be the determinant condition, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and monitoring aiming to reduce cardiovascular diseases in early adult life.
metabolic syndrome X; diagnostic; obesity; overweight; child; adolescent
