Stability of relative weight category and cardiometabolic risk factors among moderately and severely obese middle school youth

OBJECTIVE: To examine the stability of severe pediatric obesity relative to moderate obesity and associated changes in cardiometabolic risk from the beginning of 6(th) to the end of 8(th) grade. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants in HEALTHY, a multi-site, cluster randomized school-based study designed to mitigate risk for type 2 diabetes, completed standardized assessments of height, weight, glucose, insulin, lipids and blood pressure at the beginning of 6(th) grade and the end of 8(th) grade. Youth were classified as moderately obese (100–119% of the 95(th) percentile of BMI for age and gender) or severely obese (≥120% of the 95(th) percentile of BMI for age and gender). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) that controlled for relevant covariables were used to examine the relation between baseline demographic and cardiometabolic risk factors and BMI status, as well as changes in relative weight category and risk factors during middle school. RESULTS: Severe obesity was more likely to endure over the course of middle school than was moderate obesity, and was associated with significantly higher levels of cardiometabolic risk. CONCLUSIONS: Research with a specific focus on understanding, preventing, and treating severe obesity in children is warranted.