What type of study is this?

This is a Cross-Sectional Study study (also classified as: Retrospective).

September 10, 2025Open Access

Uric Acid Metabolism and Its Relationship with Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study in South China

Key Points

High prevalence of hyperuricemia (36.30%) was found in overweight and obese children, highlighting a significant metabolic health concern.
Every 1 kg/m² increase in body mass index correlates with a 7.156 µmol/L increase in uric acid levels, suggesting a link between weight and uric acid metabolism.
Significant correlations exist between uric acid levels and insulin resistance, with implications for early metabolic health interventions.
Hierarchical clustering reveals distinct metabolic profiles, underscoring the complex interactions between uric acid and other metabolic parameters.

Abstract

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents have emerged as significant public health issues in China. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of serum uric acid (SUA) metabolism in overweight and obese children and adolescents in South China, exploring its associations with metabolic parameters. A single-center retrospective study was conducted, involving children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years diagnosed with overweight and obesity. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate relationships between SUA and other metabolic parameters. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to adjust for confounders. Comparisons were made between participants with hyperuricemia and those with normal SUA levels, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for confounders. Hierarchical clustering was performed to explore the relationships among the parameters. A dendrogram was generated to visualize the cluster structure. Among 172 participants (96 males, 76 females), the mean age was 10.88±2.70 years. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 36.30%, with 38.46% in males and 33.82% in females. Every 1 kg/m² increase in body mass index was associated with a 7.156 µmol/L increase in SUA and an 8.9% increase in hyperuricemia risk. Significant correlations were observed between SUA levels and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting insulin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed two distinct clusters. One cluster includes SUA along with insulin resistance and lipid metabolism parameters, while the other comprises obesity metrics, urinary microalbumin, and blood glucose. The findings show a high prevalence of hyperuricemia in overweight and obese children and adolescents, linked to insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. These results highlight the need for early screening and targeted interventions to improve metabolic health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

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