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Abstract

Childhood obesity is a worldwide health problem and its prevalence is increasing steadily and dramatically all over the world. Obese subjects have a much greater likelihood than normal-weight children of acquiring dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure and impaired glucose metabolism, which significantly increase their risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Elevated TSH concentrations in association with normal or slightly elevated free T4 and/or free T3 levels have been consistently found in obese subjects, but the mechanisms underlying these thyroid hormonal changes are still unclear. Whether higher TSH in childhood obesity is adaptive, increasing metabolic rate in an attempt to reduce further weight gain or indicates subclinical hypothyroidism or resistance and thereby contributes to lipid and/or glucose dysmetabolism, remains controversial. My report will highlight current evidence on thyroid involvement in obese children and discusses the current controversy regarding the relationship between thyroid hormonal derangements and obesity-related metabolic changes (hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) in such population; the possible mechanisms linking thyroid dysfunction and pediatric obesity and; the potential role of lifestyle intervention as well as of therapy with thyroid hormone in the treatment of thyroid abnormalities in childhood obesity.

Biography

Lucia Pacifico was a Researcher and Assistant Professor in Pediatrics from 1988. She completed her Medical studies at Sapienza University of Rome from 1971-1977; Residency in Pediatrics at Sapienza University of Rome from 1977-1980 and; Residency in Pediatrics at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, USA from 1981-1982. She was Board Certified in Neonatology (Rome, Italy) in 1983. Her research interests include Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Email: lucia.pacifico@uniroma1.it