A Study Of Cutaneous Manifestations In Overweight And Obese Paediatric Population

Abstract

Introduction : Overweight and obesity are defined as excessive fat accumulation in the body. There has been a significant rise in recent years. The cutaneous manifestations of obesity emerge early in childhood and impose a risk of developing metabolic diseases in the future.  Aims and objectives : To assess the prevalence of different types of skin manifestations and its correlation with HOMA-IR in overweight and obese paediatric population.  Materials and Methods : This is a prospective study of seventy-eight pediatric individuals aged 5 to 18 years. Demographic details, clinical examination, photographs and BMI were documented. HOMA-IR was estimated using serum fasting Insulin and glucose levels and it was correlated with the cutaneous findings. Results : Among 78 children, there were 49 males and 29 females with a mean age of 13.55 ± 2.87 years. The most common cutaneous finding was acanthosis nigricans (87.2%). The second most common finding was cutaneous infections, affecting 78.3% of the cases. Within these infections, 37.2% had dermatophyte infections, 7% had bacterial infections, 3.8% had viral infections, and 2.6% had parasitic infestations. Other observed cutaneous findings included striae (73.1%), acrochordons (39.7%), acne (32.1%), xerosis (21.8%), keratosis pilaris (17.9%), gynaecomastia (6.4%), and hirsutism (1.3%). These cutaneous manifestations were more prevalent in individuals aged 10-15 years with a BMI >95th percentile and HOMA-IR >2.6 suggesting a correlation between cutaneous findings and obesity.  Conclusion : Overweight and Obesity is a major health problem and continues to rise in both adult and pediatric population. It is implicated in a wide range of Cutaneous lesions. Early identification along with lifestyle modifications can help to avoid future risk and complications of metabolic diseases.