## 3 Results
### Assessment of Risk Factors
#### 3.3.3 Normal-Weight Patients  
CIMT overall mean values were lower in all subgroups compared to the ones in the obese and overweight groups. Although we detected higher CIMT in all risk categories, the differences were not statistically significant, due to small samples (Table 5).  
Postnatal nutrition. Only 36% of normal-weight children received formula as nurslings, and their CIMT mean values scored higher than in the breastfed group (\(\overline{X}\) = 0.41 mm vs. \(\overline{X}\) = 0.37 mm).  
Birthweight. Birth weight had no influence on the outcome of CIMT; 52% of children had normal BW and a \(\overline{X}\) = 0.38 mm CIMT, whereas 48% had abnormal BW (8% \(\leq\)2500 g and \(\overline{X}\) = 0.39 mm CIMT, and 40% \(>\)3500 g and \(\overline{X}\) = 0.4 mm CIMT, respectively).  
Biological mother's health during pregnancy. Unhealthy pregnancy seemed to be a valid risk factor for higher CIMT (\(\overline{X}\) = 0.43 mm vs. \(\overline{X}\) = 0.37 mm) even in normal-weight children; however, only 32% of normal-weight children were born from unhealthy pregnancies, compared to 70% in the case of obese children and 53% in the case of overweight children, respectively. A total of 12% of unhealthy pregnancies were due to \(>\)20 kg weight gain and 8% due to autoimmune thyroiditis, whereas gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and smoking during pregnancy added up to 4% each. A total of 68% of pregnancies that resulted in normal-weight children were declared completely physiological.  
Family history. Up to 72% of normal-weight children had no family history of cardiometabolic diseases. CIMT mean values scored higher in children with at-risk family history, but the differences were not statistically significant (\(\overline{X}\) = 0.42 mm vs. \(\overline{X}\) = 0.3 mm, \(p\) = 0.2). Out of the 28% of children with a history of cardiometabolic diseases in their immediate family, 16% declared obesity, whereas autoimmune thyroiditis, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes each added up 4%.  
High blood pressure. Out of the 25 overall subjects with high blood pressure, only one patient belonged to the normal-weight group.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Risk Factor**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**\% of Total Normal-**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Mean**} & \multirow{2}{*}{\(p\)**-Value**} \\  & & **Weight Children** & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Postnatal food} & Formula & 36\% & 0.41 & \\  & Breastmilk & 64\% & 0.38 & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Birth weight} & \(<\)2500 g & 8\% & 0.39 & \\  & \(>\)3500 g & 40\% & 0.40 & 0.5 \\  & Normal & 52\% & 0.38 & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Biological mother’s health} & Abnormal & 32\% & 0.43 & \\  & Normal & 68\% & 0.37 & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Family history} & Abnormal & 28\% & 0.42 & \\  & Normal & 72\% & 0.38 & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Smoking} & Smoker & 4\% & 0.56 & \\  & Non-smoker & 96\% & 0.38 & N/A \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Hypertension} & Yes & 4\% & 0.47 & \\  & No & 96\% & 0.39 & N/A \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{Lifestyle} & Sedentary & 32\% & 0.42 & \\  & Normal & 68\% & 0.38 & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{CIMT median for entire normal-weight group (mm)} & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: Mean CIMT in the presence of different risk factors in normal-weight children.  
* Smoking. The same situation was detected for the risk factor of smoking: One patient out of the 25 smoking patients belonged to the normal-weight group.
* Lifestyle. Up to 68% of normal-weight controls led healthy lifestyles with regard to physical activity (>1 h of exercise/day and/or practicing an organized sport). Those patients presented lower values for CIMT than children with sedentary lifestyles, but the differences were not statistically significant (\(p\) = 0.24).