Cardiometabolic risk in young women with obesity. Primary data

Obesity is a chronic disease with extensive health consequences. Its prevalence is constantly increasing, including among children and young people. In this study we assessed the cardiometabolic risk and its correlation with leptin/adiponectin ratio in obese young women. We enrolled 72 apparently healthy women, comprising 36 with normal weight (BMI ≤ 25 kg/m²) and 36 with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). The mean age was 34.1±5.6 years. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were studied: body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, blood presure, serum level of glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol. Compared to normal weight women, obese women have had significantly higher levels of leptin, insulin and blood glucose (p < 0.001). But the level of adiponectin was lower (p < 0.001). The leptin/adiponectin ratio had a positive correlation with BMI, waist circumferince, waist-hip ratio, blood glucose, insulinemia, HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance), LDL cholesterol and negative correlation with HDL cholesterol in the group of obese women. Research results revealed higher cardiometabolic risk in young women with obesity. The leptin/adiponectin ratio is in direct correlation with this risk, being a good predictor of insulin resistance.