Interaction between Autonomic Regulation, Adiposity Indexes and Metabolic Profile in Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity

Abstract

Early obesity predicts initial modifications in cardiac and vascular autonomic regulation. The aim of this study was to assess the possible interaction between non-invasive measures of autonomic cardiovascular control and peripheral endothelium regulation in children with overweight and obesity. We involved 114 young subjects (77M/37F, 12.7 ± 2.2 years) with normal weight (NW, n = 46,) to overweight or obesity (OB, n = 68). Multivariate statistical techniques utilizing a collection of modern indices of autonomic regulation, adiposity indexes and metabolic profile were employed. Resting values show substantial equivalence of data. Conversely, blood pressure variance is greater in NW/OB groups. The correlation matrix between major autonomic and metabolic/hemodynamic variables shows a clustered significant correlation between homogeneous indices. A significant correlation between metabolic indices and endothelial and autonomic control, mostly in its vascular end, was recorded. Particularly, the alpha index is significantly correlated with triglycerides (r = −0.261) and endothelial indices (RHI, r = 0.276). Children with obesity show a link between indices of autonomic and endothelial function, fat distribution and metabolic profile. The optimization of autonomic control, for instance by exercise/nutrition interventions, could potentially prevent/delay the occurrence of structural vascular damage leading to reduced cardiovascular health.

Progressive Additive Benefits of Prehabilitation and Subsequent Bariatric Surgery on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation as Assessed by Means of a Simple Unitary Composite Index: Preliminary Data from an Observational Study

“…The study of ANS in a clinical setting may represent an important diagnostic tool, in order to identify early alterations preceding full-blown diseases and/or to highlight improvement following weight reduction interventions. In line with our previous findings revealing a correlation between ANS dysfunction and metabolic alterations [ 52 , 53 , 57 ], in the present study, we observed a progressive improvement of ANS regulation following both smaller and greater weight reduction (after one month-prehabilitation and BS, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this progressive improvement (LT p < 0.001 for both ANSI and Alpha Index) has been never observed hitherto.…”

“…Recent data also show a role of obesity in worsening COVID-19 prognosis [ 51 ]. Overweight and obesity are characterized by an impairment of ANS prior to the onset of diabetes or cardiac disease [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 52 , 53 ], thus suggesting a possible role of ANS alongside other etiopathogenetic mechanisms in the development of these conditions. Of particular interest is the relationship between insulin resistance and ANS control in obese patients.…”

Benefits in Cardiac Function from a Remote Exercise Program in Children with Obesity

“…In all the participants, height, weight, puberal stage, BMI, BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were measured as previously described [ 29 ]. Briefly, weight was measured using a scale platform (Seca, Hamburg, Germany) with children not wearing shoes and in light clothing, standing upright, hands at their sides, and looking straight ahead.…”

“…Briefly, weight was measured using a scale platform (Seca, Hamburg, Germany) with children not wearing shoes and in light clothing, standing upright, hands at their sides, and looking straight ahead. Height was measured using a Harpenden stadiometer (Holtain Ltd., Cross-well, UK) [ 29 ]. BMI was calculated as body weight (kilograms) divided by height (meters squared) and converted into BMI z scores using WHO reference values [ 30 ].…”

Influence of Chronic Exposure to Exercise on Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents Affected by Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Childhood obesity has been linked to the early onset of various chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and systemic arterial hypertension [ 3 ]. Additionally, research demonstrates that obesity is often attended by earlier dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system [ 4 ]. Adverse obesity-related health consequences have been associated with possible cognitive decline and increased body mass index, while central adiposity has been shown to be correlated with performance impairments under task conditions that require executive control [ 5 ].…”