Plasma levels of orexin-a and leptin in obese children.

The present study was designed to determine the plasma level of orexin and its relationship with other metabolic and anthropometric markers in obese children. Forty-seven obese Japanese children, consisting of 31 boys and 16 girls, were enrolled in the study. Their ages were 10.

Decrease in serum adiponectin level due to obesity and visceral fat accumulation in children.

Objective: To determine whether serum adiponectin is decreased in obesity and is restored toward normal level after treatment in children.

Research Methods And Procedures: Subjects were 53 Japanese obese children, 33 boys and 20 girls (6 to 14 years old), and 30 age-matched nonobese controls for measuring adiponectin (16 boys and 14 girls). Blood was drawn after an overnight fast, and the obese children were subjected to anthropometric measurements including waist and hip circumferences and skinfold thicknesses.

Increased serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein in obese children.

Objective: To determine whether serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), which is one of the physiologically active gene products secreted from adipose tissue, is increased and associated with atherogenic lipoprotein profile in obese children.

Research Methods And Procedures: Subjects were 42 consecutive outpatient Japanese obese children, 29 boys and 13 girls, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years, and 25 age-matched non-obese children, 13 boys and 12 girls, as the control group for measuring CETP mass. Blood was drawn after an overnight fast and, at the same time, and anthropometric measurements including height, body weight, waist girth, hip girth, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were taken.