Racial and ethnic variations of metabolic indicators associated with childhood obesity: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
This first multiethnic pediatric metabolic comparison reveals distinct racial/ethnic patterns, with ACTH emerging as a novel mediator in Chinese adolescents. Findings underscore the need for ethnicity-tailored prevention strategies.
Study context
- Population
- Age-matched adolescents (12–18 years); 55.22% male, mean age 14.51 ± 1.87 years, median body mass index (BMI) 31.55 kg/m²
- Participants
- 632 adolescents
- Exposure
- Adolescents from China vs Hispanic, Mexican American (MA), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Other ethnic groups from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
- Outcome
- Metabolic indicators vs Chinese adolescents
Methodological detailscomparative, mediation analysis
- Comparative
- Mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- NHB had higher HbA1c, NHW lower HbA1c; both lower HOMA-β vs Chinese
- All groups had higher HDL-C, lower total cholesterol and LDL-C vs Chinese
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlations with BMI SDS
- HbA1c correlated positively with BMI SDS in Chinese and MA
- Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR correlated positively with BMI SDS in all groups except Hispanic
- HOMA-β correlated positively in all groups except Hispanic and NHW
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) mediation of BMI SDS associations (Chinese adolescents)
- ACTH mediated BMI SDS–fasting insulin association
- P = 0.014
- ACTH mediated BMI SDS–HOMA-IR association
- 0.020
- Cross-sectional mediation analysis; statistical associations
Original publication
Racial and ethnic variations of metabolic indicators associated with childhood obesity: a comparative cross-sectional study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 9 April 2026. doi:10.
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