Objective

To determine the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic abnormalities in obese children and adolescents in Beijing.

Methods

This study involved 387 obese children and adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years in Beijing. Data on anthropometric measurements was collected, including weight, height and age. All subjects underwent a clinic examination containing fasting blood and liver ultrasonography. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed using diagnostic criteria for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which was recommended by the Fatty liver and Alcoholic Liver Disease Study Group of Liver Disease Association in China.

Results

174 out of the 387 children were diagnosed as having NAFLD. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 45.0% in this study population. The prevalence rates of NAFLD did not show significant difference between girls and boys. The prevalence rates of diabetes mellitus and IFG were 0.8% and 49.1% respectively. The prevalence rates of HTG, HTC, HLDL-C, LHDL-C, IFG, elevated ALT (or AST) and acanthosis nigricans were 6.3%, 4.0%, 37.9%, 22.8%, 46.0%, 17.8% and 28.5% in students combined with obesity and NAFLD, respectively. In the NAFLD subgroup, higher prevalence of high TG, acanthosis nigricans, abnormal ALT or AST were seen. With the increasing of obesity, the level of LDL-C, TG, liver function disturbance and prevalence of NAFLD and acanthosis nigricans were aggravated. Under binary logistic regression analysis, results showed that high BMI, acanthosis nigricans and TG were significantly correlated with NAFLD in obese children and adolescent population.

Conclusion

NAFLD was common in obese children, and the prevalence of NAFLD in obese children was 45.0%. Higher BMI, acanthosis nigricans and abnormal TG were independent risk factors for NAFLD in obese children. Obese children who had been exposed to high risk factors should take the ultrasonography.