One hundred children (60 boys and 40 girls) with simple overweight (BMI between 85^th and 95^th percentiles according to age & gender specific CDC 2000 growth charts) and obesity (BMI >95^th percentile) and aged between 6 and 16 years were enrolled into the study [16]. Those having an acute infection, secondary obesity, known primary hyperlipidemias, diabetes or hypertension, hereditary or systemic inflammatory diseases, on any regular medications or significant physical training program were excluded. One hundred (56 boys and 44 girls) age matched non-obese (BMI between 25^th & 75^th percentiles according to age and gender specific CDC 2000 growth charts) children were taken as controls. The obese subjects were recruited from the Pediatric Endocrinology clinic of the hospital and controls were recruited from a nearby government run school. The study was approved by the Institute’s Ethics Committee. Written informed consent from parents and assent from the participating children was obtained.

A thorough physical examination was done in all subjects to exclude any significant systemic illness. Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer after 20min of rest in supine position. Weight was measured on electronic weighing machine (Avery, India) to the nearest 50g with children barefoot and wearing light clothing. Height was measured with a stadiometer to the nearest 1mm. BMI was calculated as the ratio of body weight to body height squared and expressed as Kg/m². Waist and hip circumference was measured to the nearest 0.1cm by using standardized anthropometric techniques. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was calculated.

Blood glucose and lipid profile (TC; HDL-C; VLDL-C; TG) were done by clinical chemistry automatic analyser (Dade Behring). Concentration of LDL-C was calculated using Friedwald formula as LDL C=TC– HDL–(TG/5). Atherogenic index was calculated as ratio of LDL– C/HDL– C. Measurement of hsCRP was done by the method based on particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) technique (Flex Reagent cartridge, Dimension clinical chemistry system, Dade Behring Ltd, UK) [17]. In this method, latex particles coated with antibody to CRP aggregate in presence of CRP in sample and increase turbidity proportional to CRP concentration which is then determined by a mathematical function. The analytical sensitivity of this method is 0.5 mg/L.

Comparison between groups was done for various categorical variables using Chi-square test. The mean values of age, anthropometry and quantitative biochemical variables were compared using independent t-test. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between different quantitative variables. Multivariate linear and logistic analysis was carried out to find significant predictors for the outcome of hs-CRP after adjusting for various confounding variables. A p-value (two-tailed) <0.05 was taken as significant.

The study cohort comprised of 116 (58%) boys and 84 (42%) girls. The anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure were significantly different in the 2 groups [Table/Fig-1]. Within group comparison of these parameters did not show any differences between boys and girls.

Mean values of all the biochemical parameters except HDL-C were significantly higher in the study group [Table/Fig-2].

Subjects were divided into three subcategories based on their hsCRP levels (<1, 1-3 and >3 mg/L) and comparison was done among two groups. Significantly more (58% versus 10%) subjects in the study group had hsCRP levels of >3 mg/L [Table/Fig-3].

In the study group, BMI showed a positive correlation with hs-CRP levels while no correlation was observed between hsCRP and other parameters of obesity in control group. The scatter diagram shows comparative linear correlation between BMI and CRP for the two groups [Table/Fig-4]. Though both regression lines are positively correlated, the relationship was statistically significant for cases only. However, R-square (coefficient of determination) is 0.06; that is only 6% of variability in CRP levels could be explained by BMI in cases. In the Multiple logistic regression analysis only BMI showed independent predictive ability for hsCRP (>3 mg/L). With every 1 kg/m² increase in BMI, odds of high hsCRP level were increased by 37% (multivariate OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.53, p-value <0.0001).

[Table/Fig-4]:

correlation between BMI and hsCRP among two groups

Obesity related metabolic syndrome is associated with increase in the levels of a number of markers of inflammation especially CRP [4–6]. This subclinical or low grade inflammatory state in simple obesity is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes [8–10]. Detection of this systemic inflammation may help to identify children and adolescents at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes as adults. A recent study indicates that the inflammatory state reflected in the increase in hsCRP levels is present even during early stages of accumulation of weight towards obesity [18].

Overweight and obese children in our study had significantly higher hs-CRP levels indicating presence of inflammatory state in the study group. Previous studies have shown similar results in young overweight and obese individuals [7,8,11–14,18]. However, the values of hs-CRP obtained in our study are higher as compared to some previous observations [11]. In the study by Hiura et al., mean CRP values were 0.33 and 1.20 mg/L in non-obese and obese groups respectively; this may be due to exclusion of children with high hs-CRP values in the obese group assuming the possibility of acute infection. As many as 23 out of 109 obese children were excluded in that study because of hsCRP values of > 3 mg/L [11]. The authors of the study did discuss the possibility that hsCRP elevation was not necessarily due to acute infection in obese children who were excluded [11]. The hsCRP levels in our study were also higher as compared to those found in a similar study from South India [19]. Although, it was not mentioned if exclusion criteria similar to the study by Hiura et al., were applied, the authors of the Indian study did acknowledge the limitation of a small sample size [19]. Since all our children were thoroughly examined to rule out any recent infection or other inflammatory states, the high levels of hsCRP obtained were probably a reflection of presence of subclinical inflammation in these patients. A strong positive correlation was observed between BMI and hsCRP levels in obese children but same degree of correlation was not seen between WHR and hsCRP although subjects with lower WHR had lower hsCRP levels. Earlier studies also have shown similar positive correlation between BMI, waist circumference (WC) and CRP [20]. Although, obese children had significant differences in lipid levels as compared to controls, the correlation between hsCRP and parameters of lipid profile was not significant. The atherogenic index, an expression of impaired lipid metabolism in obesity, was altered in the study group, an observation made in earlier studies also [11]. Atherogenic dyslipidemia is considered as an important cardiovascular disease risk factor in obese patients [21]. Similarly FBS was also higher in the overweight/obese group although no subject fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of diabetes. Similar observations have been made in different studies in children and indicate the presence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome in obese children [19,22].

The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures differed significantly amongst the two study groups although none of the subjects were actually hypertensive. These results are consistent with some previous studies [10,11]. Our observation adds to the hypothesis that inflammatory state that occurs in obesity may contribute to elevation of blood pressure [23]. Elevated blood pressure and in particular the pulse pressure has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and the underlying mechanism may be inflammation as demonstrated by elevated CRP levels [24]. Hypertension may also increase cardiovascular risk by causing chronic endothelial injury promoting structural and functional vascular alterations, especially in the microvascular network [25]. The higher values of hsCRP as compared to previous studies [11] as well as the alterations in blood pressure, lipids and blood glucose in our study may indicate the enhanced cardiovascular risk in Indian children with simple obesity particularly in view of the recent recommendations for diagnosis of obesity and MS for Asian Indians [15].

Children with overweight and obesity have increased hsCRP levels that may indicate a low grade systemic inflammation in these children. Additionally, they have elevations of blood pressure, FBG and lipids.