Abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, hypertension and urinary sodium in obese adolescents

The aim of this study was to assess abdominal adiposity relationship with insulin resistance, high blood pressure and urinary sodium excretion in an obese adolescent population. A descriptive cross sectional study that included 107 obese teenagers from 10 to 14 years of age without any dietary restriction was performed during 2011 and 2012 at the Pediatric Hospital, in Posadas, Misiones. Abdominal obesity was defined as: waist perimeter >= p90, hypertension: systolic and/or diastolic pressure >= p95 and prehypertension >= p90 and <p95 adjusted for gender, age and height. Cut value to insulin resistance was HOMA-IR >= 3. Sodium was measured in 24 h urine (Na-ur) by selective ion electrode and insulin by chemiluminiscence. A total of 93% of the obese population showed high waist circumference, 49% insulin resistance, 21% severe obesity (IMC score z >= 3) and 23% showed hypertension/prehypertension. Waist circumference correlation was significant and positive with arterial systolic pressure, arterial diastolic pressure and insulin resistance. It resulted significantly negative to sodium urinary excretion. The obese teenagers who had more abdominal fat showed higher systolic pressure, diastolic pressure values, insulin resistance and odd sodium homeostasis with lower urinary excretion of the previously mentioned ion.