Relationship Between Obesity and Metabolic Biomarkers in Iraqi Children and Adolescents

Shahd Abdulamer Kadhim; Doaa Oday Hatem; Hayder Swadi Imran ALJanabi

doi:10.58709/niujhs.v12i1.2740

Shahd Abdulamer Kadhim College of Medicine, Al-Muthanna University, Iraq
Doaa Oday Hatem College of Medicine, Al-Muthanna University, Iraq
Hayder Swadi Imran ALJanabi College of Medicine, Al-Muthanna University, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58709/niujhs.v12i1.2740

Abstract

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity are major public health concerns because they are associated with metabolic abnormalities that may persist into adulthood. Increased adiposity can influence several hormonal and biochemical parameters, including leptin and insulin concentrations, glucose metabolism, and lipid profile. Early identification of these alterations may contribute to improved prevention and risk assessment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between overweight and obesity and serum leptin, insulin, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile among Iraqi children and adolescents in the age range of 6-16 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Samawah city, Al-Muthanna governorate, Iraq, from February to June 2026. Eighty children and adolescents participated in this study; twenty subjects were selected with normal body weight while sixty subjects were selected as being overweight and obese based on WHO BMI-for-age classification. The blood samples were taken following 12 hours of overnight fasting. Leptin and insulin were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fasting blood glucose and lipids profile were determined using standard laboratory techniques. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics software, where the P value was taken <0.05 as statistically significant.

Results: There was a presence of high levels of serum leptin and insulin in individuals who had overweight or obesity compared to healthy subjects. Leptin levels increased significantly depending on BMI as well as age and gender. Serum insulin levels also showed statistical significance between the study groups. Variations in fasting blood glucose and lipid profile levels were also seen, but the majority of variations were not statistically significant. Further verification is needed for fasting blood glucose results since there were discrepancies between the reported descriptive results and the statistical results.

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents were found to be related to changes in certain hormonal and metabolic parameters, especially in the levels of leptin and insulin in blood. The results show that some changes in metabolism can be found even in children who have excessive adipose tissue although there is no statistical difference in all glucose and lipid variables examined.

Keywords: Childhood obesity; Overweight; Leptin; Insulin; Fasting blood glucose; Lipid profile; Body mass index; Children; Adolescents.