Abstract: (17728 Views)
Background and Purpose: Childhood overweight and obesity can be an underlying cause of atherosclerosis. An early stage of atherosclerosis is shown by intimal thickening. The purpose of this study is to evaluate intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries on 12 to18 years’ old obese children in comparison to control group.
Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, mean IMT of body and bulb of carotid artery (of both sides) were measured in eighty (40 obese & 40 normal), 12 to18 years old students. Data was analyzed by X2 and student - test in SPSS-15 analytical software at P<0.05.
Results: The mean age in obese and control groups were 13.9 ± 1.7 and 14.4 ± 1.9 years respectively (P=0.192) .The mean weight, cholesterol and triglyceride in the obese group was 72.05 kg, 175.9 mg/dl and 154.9mg/dl. In control group, 47.9 kg, 146.9 mg/dl and 90.05 mg/dl respectively (P<0.000). The mean carotid artery IMT in obese and control groups were 0.4806, 0.4167 (P<0.00) and the mean IMT of bulb were 0.4885, 0.4362 (P<0.00) respectively.
Conclusion: Increase in IMT of body and bulb of carotid artery, were shown in obese adolescences and these increases of thickness were associated with high blood levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.