Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Central obesity is an important predictor of all-cause mortality. Children of obese parents bear a greater risk to develop obesity themselves. The rising frequency of obesity in children highlights the importance of environmental factors such as eating behaviors. Our objective was to find possible correlations in central obesity and other cardio-metabolic parameters between mother and daughter. Subjects and Methods The current study measured anthropometric, laboratory, radiologic, and genetic data for 120 centrally obese mothers and their 200 daughters aged from 12 to 18 years old. Familial associations for central obesity and other non-communicable disease risk factors were assessed. Results Thirty-two percent of the group of daughters were overweight, 18.0% obese and 30% had central obesity; 22.0% are already suffering from metabolic syndrome. Genotype E3/E4 of apolipoprotein E group has the highest percentage of daughters suffering from central obesity. Positive correlation was found between daughters and their mothers regarding central obesity indices. Umbilical visceral fat of mothers was positively correlated with waist to hip ratio and LDL of daughters. Both waist and hip circumferences of mothers was positively correlated to HDL of daughters. A positive correlation was also noticed between mothers{u2019} LDL and daughters{u2019} waist-height ratio. Mothers{u2019} insulin and insulin resistance was positively correlated to daughters{u2019} triceps skinfold thickness as well as visceral umbilical fat. Correlations for some other non-communicable disease risk factors were also significant. Significant strong positive correlations showed between eating precooked/froze /fried food and suprailiac skinfold thickness; negative correlations between eating vegetables, fruits and both triceps and biceps skinfold thickness were apparent. Conclusion A key role could be played by the mother in the primary prevention of central obesity due to the consistent association of central obesity indices between mothers and daughters

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