Background/Objectives
The association between atopic dermatitis, body weight and serum lipid levels is not well known, and very few studies have examined this relationship in children.
Methods
Children (n = 239) under 14 years old participated in this prospective cross‐sectional study. The following variables were recorded: age, gender, weight, height, atopic dermatitis severity, serum levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides.
Results
Mean body mass index was slightly higher in atopic dermatitis patients than healthy controls and significantly higher in atopic dermatitis patients aged 0–2 years (atopic dermatitis, 16.7 ± 4.6; controls, 15.7 ± 1.3; P = 0.04) and 12–14 years (atopic dermatitis, 24.9 ± 5.3; controls, 20.6 ± 3.4; P = 0.03). Among atopic dermatitis patients, body mass index was significantly higher in those with severe atopic dermatitis in the 9–12 (P = 0.03) and 12–14 (P = 0.01) years groups. Mean serum lipid levels were higher in patients with severe atopic dermatitis than in the atopic dermatitis group as a whole. These differences reached statistical significance for total cholesterol (P = 0.04) and triglycerides (P = 0.02).
Conclusion
The prevalence of overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia is greater in children with atopic dermatitis than in age‐matched healthy counterparts.