Arterial stiffness and endothelial function in obese children and adolescents and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Obesity is related to an increase in the rates of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To establish the impact of obesity on vascular function (endothelial function and arterial stiffness) in children and adolescents and its relationship to cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: In obese (OB) children and adolescents, endothelial function and arterial stiffness were evaluated by a pulse plethysmography method (reactive hyperemia and index of digital volume waveforms, respectively).