Metabolic Syndrome Among Overweight and Obese Children Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital of Jharkhand: A Cross-Sectional Study.
- 1Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jharkhand, IND.
- 2Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jharkhand, IND.
- 3Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jharkhand, IND.
Abstract
Background
Childhood obesity is a growing public health challenge and is closely linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiometabolic abnormalities that predispose to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Data on the prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome among Indian children, particularly in underserved regions, remain limited.Objective
The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese children attending a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India.Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2024 and March 2025 among 250 overweight and obese children aged 5-15 years at AIIMS Deoghar. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and fasting biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol) were assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) criteria. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression to determine independent predictors.Results
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38% (n=95; 95% CI: 31.9-44.1). Significant risk factors included family history of obesity (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.22-2.48), excess junk food intake (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18-2.11), abnormal developmental history (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.39-3.08), low physical activity (<1 hour/day; OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.59), screen time >2 hours/day (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.07), and birth weight <2.5 kg (adjusted OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.09-1.88). Protective factors included exclusive breastfeeding for six months (p<0.001). No significant association was observed with gender or parental education.Conclusion
Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among overweight and obese children in Jharkhand, with both lifestyle-related (diet, physical activity, and screen time) and perinatal (low birth weight and maternal diabetes/hypertension) factors contributing. Early interventions targeting modifiable risk factors through lifestyle modification and health education are essential to reduce long-term cardiometabolic risks in this population.
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BibTeX
@article{kaur2026metabolic,
title = {{Metabolic Syndrome Among Overweight and Obese Children Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital of Jharkhand: A Cross-Sectional Study.}},
author = {Mandeep Kaur and Sarthak Das and Vinayagamoorthy Venugopal and Saroj K Tripathy and Ehtesham Ansari and Soumi Kundu and Archana Malik},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.116684},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923918},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Metabolic Syndrome Among Overweight and Obese Children Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital of Jharkhand: A Cross-Sectional Study.
AU - Mandeep Kaur
AU - Sarthak Das
AU - Vinayagamoorthy Venugopal
AU - Saroj K Tripathy
AU - Ehtesham Ansari
AU - Soumi Kundu
AU - Archana Malik
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.116684
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923918
AB - Background Childhood obesity is a growing public health challenge and is closely linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiometabolic abnormalities that predispose to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Data on the prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome among Indian children, particularly in underserved regions, remain limited.Objective The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese children attending a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India.Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2024 and March 2025 among 250 overweight and obese children aged 5-15 years at AIIMS Deoghar. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and fasting biochemical parameters (glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol) were assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) criteria. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression to determine independent predictors.Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38% (n=95; 95% CI: 31.9-44.1). Significant risk factors included family history of obesity (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.22-2.48), excess junk food intake (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18-2.11), abnormal developmental history (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.39-3.08), low physical activity (<1 hour/day; OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.59), screen time >2 hours/day (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.07), and birth weight <2.5 kg (adjusted OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.09-1.88). Protective factors included exclusive breastfeeding for six months (p<0.001). No significant association was observed with gender or parental education.Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among overweight and obese children in Jharkhand, with both lifestyle-related (diet, physical activity, and screen time) and perinatal (low birth weight and maternal diabetes/hypertension) factors contributing. Early interventions targeting modifiable risk factors through lifestyle modification and health education are essential to reduce long-term cardiometabolic risks in this population.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -