In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the anthropometric characteristics and total cholesterol (TC) levels in a population of 5-year-old children, to determine trends in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypercholesterolaemia in 5-year-old children over a period of 8 years (2001-2009) and to assess the impact of modified national nutritional guidelines for kindergartens implemented in 2005. Overweight and obesity prevalence were stabilised from 2001 to 2009 . Girls were more frequently overweight/obese than boys (OR (95% CI): 0.71 (0.65-0.79) and 0.75 (0.64-0.89) respectively). Prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia significantly decreased from 2001 to 2009 (OR (95% CI): 0.47 (0.41-0.55)). It was less frequent in boys than in girls (OR (95% CI): O.7 (0.61-0.8)). No correlation between BMI values and TC levels was found. This is the first study to describe a negative trend in the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in pre-pubertal children. In addition, the prevalence of overweight/obesity in these children has been stabilised. Nationwide changes in public health policies could have influenced these observations.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31060697
Coauthorship in a scientific monography "Pediatric endocrinology", one of the most important monographies in this field, used in graduate and postgrauate medical science courses and especially in subspecialisation in pediatric endocrinology in several countries around the world.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1836204
Results of this pilot study undertaken within this project were presented as an oral presentation at the 40th annual meeting ot the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. THis was the first report on the association of genetic variants in DEPTOR gene with individual's susceptibility for insulin and has therefore identified mTOR signalling pathway as a potential target for future research in the field of prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1803692