Objective: To present the components of the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents and to discuss how they are assessed in the pediatric population in addition to presenting the major metabolic syndrome classifications for the age group.Sources: A review of literature published from 1986 to 2008 and found on MEDLINE databases. Summary of the findings:The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing globally over recent decades and as a result its complications, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia, have also increased. The concept of metabolic syndrome, already common with adults, is now beginning to be applied to children through classifications using the criteria for adults modified for the younger age group. Notwithstanding, these classifications differ in terms of the cutoff points used and whether they employ body mass index or waist circumference to define obesity. The review presents these classifications, highlighting the points on which they differ and the debate about them. Conclusions:If childhood obesity goes untreated, it will have severe consequences in the future. A number of models for classifying metabolic syndrome in children have been published, but there is considerable diversions between them. The criteria for classifying metabolic syndrome in children therefore need to be standardized in order to identify those people at greatest risk of future complications. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010;86(2):101-108:Childhood obesity, visceral fat, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance. ResumoObjetivo: Abordar os componentes da síndrome metabólica (SM) na criança e no adolescente discutindo como eles são avaliados na população infantil e apresentando as principais classificações de SM nessa faixa etária. Fontes dos dados:Revisão da literatura utilizando as bases de dados MEDLINE no período de 1986 a 2008. Síntese dos dados:A prevalência de obesidade infantil nas últimas décadas tem aumentado no mundo todo e, consequentemente, suas complicações, como diabetes melito, hipertensão arterial e dislipidemia. O conceito de SM, já usado em adultos, começa a ser aplicado em crianças por meio de classificações que utilizam os critérios para adultos modificados para faixas etárias menores. No entanto, essas classificações apresentam divergências quanto ao valor de pontos de corte usados nos critérios e quanto à utilização do índice de massa corporal ou da medida da circunferência abdominal para definir a obesidade. Esta revisão apresenta essas classificações mostrando os pontos discordantes e a discussão em torno delas. Conclusões:Se não for tratada, a obesidade infantil terá consequên-cias graves no futuro. Alguns modelos de classificação de SM em crianças já foram apresentados, e observam-se consideráveis divergências entre eles. Assim, torna-se necessária a padronização desses critérios para a identificação dos indivíduos com maior risco de complicações futuras. Síndrome metabólica na infância -Pergher RN et al. J Pediatr (Rio J)

Objective: To present the components of the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents and to discuss how they are assessed in the pediatric population in addition to presenting the major metabolic syndrome classifications for the age group.Sources: A review of literature published from 1986 to 2008 and found on MEDLINE databases. Summary of the findings:The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing globally over recent decades and as a result its complications, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia, have also increased. The concept of metabolic syndrome, already common with adults, is now beginning to be applied to children through classifications using the criteria for adults modified for the younger age group. Notwithstanding, these classifications differ in terms of the cutoff points used and whether they employ body mass index or waist circumference to define obesity. The review presents these classifications, highlighting the points on which they differ and the debate about them. Conclusions:If childhood obesity goes untreated, it will have severe consequences in the future. A number of models for classifying metabolic syndrome in children have been published, but there is considerable diversions between them. The criteria for classifying metabolic syndrome in children therefore need to be standardized in order to identify those people at greatest risk of future complications.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010;86(2):101-108: Childhood obesity, visceral fat, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance.