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KMID : 0667720070440000448
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Report Natlonal Institute of Health
2007 Volume.44 No. 0 p.448 ~ p.450
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Serum Leptin Levels and Changes in Body Weight and Obesity Index in Gwacheon Elementary School Children
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Kim In-Kyoung
Kang Jae-Heon
Song Ji-Hyun
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Abstract
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Purpose : Leptin, as an adipocyte-derived hormone, is an important regulator of food intake and energy expenditure. In the cross-sectional study, leptin was shown to be positively related to body adiposity and metabolic disorders in adults. However, there were very few studies which reported the leptin as a predictor of weight gain
over time. We examined whether serum leptin can be used as an indicator of the present and 1-year past weight status in very young children.
Methods : First grade students from elementary schools in Gwacheon City were enrolled in the study since 2005. The study subjects (total 375 students; 195 boys, 180 girls) participated in the investigation of both 2005 and 2006. Physical examinations including height, weight, waist circumference were done. To examine the prevalence of obesity, obesity index was used. Serum leptin was measured.
Results : Leptin levels were strongly positively related with the value of the present BMI and with the value of the BMI one year before. Children were divided into three groups according to leptin tertiles. The highest leptin tertile group showed highest prevalence of obesity in year 2006 as well as in year 2005. Serum leptin levels can reflect the weight status now and as well as 1-year before. Possibly leptin levels can predict the weight gain of year later. Without an action against the obesity on children with high leptin level, those children would maintain the excess adiposity growth and progress into the obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Conclusions : Further studies are needed to predict the obesity as early as possible and preventive system then after.
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KEYWORD
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children, obesity, leptin
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