November 7, 2005 -- Tracking Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescent Girls

“Metabolic syndrome”—a constellation of factors including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and high fasting glucose levels—is appearing in both black and white adolescent girls, according to a research report published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics. Data from a 10-year study of 2000 girls show that prevalence of the syndrome increased significantly from age 9, when there were almost no cases, to age 19, when 3 percent of black girls and 2.3 percent of white girls had the syndrome. Researchers noted that increases in waist circumference were a leading contributor to development of the syndrome and they suggested that “taking action in adolescence could provide major health benefits.” The corresponding author of the Pediatrics report can be reached by e-mail at john.morrison@cchmc.org.