Study of muscle strength using hand-held dynamometry in pediatric patients with obesity.

Children with obesity had above-average muscle strength compared to healthy reference populations.

• Mean muscle strength Z-score was +0.71 in the dominant hand
• Sample included 125 pediatric patients with obesity aged 6-16 years
• Mean age was 12.06 years; 50.4% female; BMI Z-score was 3.87 (SD, 1.46)
• Differences in muscle strength Z-scores were found based on sex and stage of pubertal development

Dynapenia (low muscle strength) was found in a minority of patients, with greater prevalence in prepubertal children.

• Prevalence of dynapenia was 4.8% overall
• Greater prevalence of dynapenia was observed in prepubertal children compared to pubertal children
• Study used hand-held dynamometry to assess grip strength

Fat-free mass was the strongest predictor of muscle strength in children with obesity.

• Muscle strength was positively correlated to fat-free mass
• Muscle strength was also positively correlated to physical activity and phase angle
• Muscle strength was negatively correlated to fat mass (FM) percentage
• Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis

Male participants had less severe obesity and a healthier body composition compared to female participants.

• Sex-based differences were observed in both obesity severity and body composition parameters
• Body composition parameters were obtained via bioelectrical impedance analysis
• Anthropometric, biochemical, sonographic, bioimpedance, and dynamometry parameters were all collected

Prepubertal patients were less physically active and had a higher fat mass percentage compared to pubertal patients.

• Physical activity data were collected as part of the study
• Prepubertal children also showed greater prevalence of dynapenia
• Fat mass percentage was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis

The prevalence of metabolic comorbidities including hyperuricemia and insulin resistance increased with the degree of obesity.

• Comorbidities specifically identified included hyperuricemia and insulin resistance
• Biochemical variables were collected and analyzed in all 125 patients
• This was a retrospective observational cohort study at a tertiary care hospital outpatient clinic