Pediatric Obesity: A Focus On Multifactorial Influences Including Iron And Hematological Parameters

Aim: To examine age-related differences in the association between vitamin D status and pediatric obesity, and to evaluate the relationship between obesity and inflammatory, hematological, and metabolic parameters.Material and Method: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed 8,010 pediatric medical records from January 2021 to December 2022. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1,134 children aged 10–18 years were included and classified as obese (n=482), overweight (n=155), or healthy controls (n=497). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, complete blood count parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and iron-related indices were analyzed and compared between groups.Results: Gender distribution differed significantly among weight groups (χ²=60.32, p