A Hospital Based Prospective Study to Evaluate the Effect of Obesity on Cardiovascular Autonomic Functions in School Children.

Maharia, Deepak; Saini, Sunil Kumar; Garg, Manoj

Background: Obesity occurs when caloric intake exceeds energy expenditure and the excess calories are stored in an adipose tissue. Several studies in literature suggest that autonomic nervous system of obese individuals is chronically altered. So this study is done to investigate the cardiovascular autonomic nervous functions in obese school children. Material & Methods: 150 School children were randomly selected to obtain mixed group of children belonging to mixed socioeconomic status of age group 9-16 from various schools of Bikaner. Then they were screened to exclude underweight children by using lower cut-off limits of BMI. 50 underweight children were excluded and remaining 100 children were selected for the study. Now these 100 children were again segregated into two groups: Obese group (22) and Non obese group (78). The subject was asked to relax in supine position for 30 minutes. The resting heart rate was recorded on a standard ECG from lead II, at a paper speed of 25 mm/sec. The cardiovascular tests performed. Results: The comparison of mean value of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity in boys and girls shows in table no. 2. Conclusion: We concluded that parents of such obese children should take this very seriously and must guide their kids to go for physical exercise as well as diet control to check the rapidly increasing weight.

OVERWEIGHT children; SCHOOL children; GIRLS; AUTONOMIC nervous system; LONGITUDINAL method; SUPINE position

International Journal of Community Health & Medical Research, 2020, Vol 6, Issue 3, p1

2581-5040

Academic Journal

10.21276/ijchmr