Abstract

Fortyseven obese children aged between 5-14 years were compared to 20 non-obese, healthy aged-matched children to identify the changes in lipid metabolism. Body mass indexes of obese children were over 95th percentile and weight for age were over 120%. Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein Aı, apolipoprotein B were assessed in both groups and the relationship between the results and hyperinsulinemia was evaluated. Triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher in obese group (p<0.05). There was no correlation between groups according to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein Aı and apolipoprotein B (p>0.05). Hyperinsulinemic and normoinsulinemic obese children had also no differences in respect to lipid profile (p>0.05). In conclusion, the study showed us that; however obesity is a risk factor for hyperlipidemia, plasma lipid levels were not affected at childhood as in adults.