Does Basal Metabolism Really Influence the Prognosis of Childhood Obesity?
Authors: Fernández Patricia Maeso 
Published: April 2024

Childhood obesity is one of the greatest social and health problems of the 21st century. Exogenous obesity consists in the pathological increase in body mass due to the imbalance between caloric intake and expenditure. Different studies and preventive protocols have been carried out with the aim of solving this health problem. Likewise, different etiopathogenic factors such as metabolism and various diagnostic methods such as bioelectrical impedance, have been described. The hypothesis is based on the assumption that a low basal metabolic rate in the context of a caloric imbalance could lead to an increase in the incidence of exogenous or primary obesity with an increase in fat mass. The objectives of the study are to carry out an epidemiological description of the variables of the database obtained on childhood obesity from the clinic. To investigate whether there is an inversely proportional relationship between basal metabolism and a patient’s fat mass. To check if there are differences between sex and age of the patients with respect to the variables under study (basal metabolism and fat mass). To analyse whether there is a directly proportional relationship between basal metabolism and lean mass. To investigate whether there are differences in basal metabolic rate between patients according to sex and whether there are differences in fat mass between patients according to sex. To determine whether there are differences in basal metabolism between patients according to age (7-10 years and 11-14 years) and whether there are differences in fat mass between patients according to age (7-10 years and 11-14 years). To stipulate whether patients with early detection (age range: 7-10 years) and late detection (age range: 11-14 years) of childhood obesity can have a better evolution in fat mass. Material and methods: A total of 19 articles were used as bibliographic references, obtained from different digital sources such as ScienceDirect, CNN, La Vanguardia, SciELO and Pubmed, and from organizations such as the Basque Government and the University of Cantabria Library. In addition, the certificate of authorization for the epidemiological exploitation of the OSI Araba database (code 01/2019) has been obtained. Excel and SPSS Stadistics 29.0.2.0 were used to perform the statistical analysis. Conclusion: An epidemiological description of the variables of the database obtained on childhood obesity from the clinic has been carried out. An inversely proportional relationship between basal metabolism and fat mass in a patient has not been found. There is no directly proportional relationship between basal metabolism and lean mass. Differences in basal metabolism between patients according to sex are described. There are no differences in fat mass between patients according to sex. There are differences in basal metabolism between patients according to age (7-10 years and 11-14 years). No differences in fat mass between patients according to age (7-10 years and 11-14 years) were described. Patients with early detection (age range: 7-10 years) and late detection (age range: 11-14 years) of childhood obesity have a better evolution in fat mass.