Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and overweight are increasingly reported in pediatric population in recent times. Various studies report that one of the most common endocrine abnormalities associated with obesity are high PTH levels and low circulating concentration of 25(OH) vitamin D. Since these important public health problems of obesity, overweight and vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency are increasingly reported in countries like India, there is a need to study the associations between them and their implications to promote better health in children.

Methods and Materials: It was a descriptive study done in obese children attending Outpatient Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu from June 2016 to October 2016.Using anthropometry, 138 children aged 2-12 years were classified into overweight and obesity based on WHO child growth charts. Laboratory evaluation including the routine work up for evaluation of obesity and 25 (OH) vitamin D, S.Calcium, S.phosphrous, S.Alkaline phosphatase, fasting, blood sugar and thyroid function tests (S.T3,S.T4 &TSH) were done using appropriate assays.

Results: Mean BMI of the subjects was found to be 24.09 +-2.612with no significant difference in the BMI and Tanner stage between male and female subjects. The mean serum concentration of calcium was 9.634 +-0.9961 mg/dl with significant difference between obese and overweight. The mean serum level of S. Phosphorus was 4.795 +-0.8157 mg/dl; with no significant difference between overweight and obese children. The mean serum concentration of Alkaline Phosphatase was 212.99 +-75.375IU/L with significant difference between obese and overweight. The mean serum level of S. 25(OH) Vitamin-D was 15.63 +-4.3 ng/ml; with significant difference between obese and overweight. Those who are overweight are found to have high levels of vitamin D than those who are obese. 70.5% of the obese category had mild vitamin D deficiency and 28.6% of them had vitamin D insufficiency. Only 1% had normal vitamin D status. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among the total 138 subjects, was 87.7%.

Conclusion: There was a strong negative correlation between BMI and Vitamin D level, as BMI increased, there was a decrease in Vitamin D levels.

Keywords: overweight, obesity, vitamin .