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Mild TSH elevations are frequently observed in obese patients, in the absence of any detectable thyroid disease. Our objective is to evaluate the relationship between the raised TSH levels and the biochemical and clinical consequences of obesity. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of a large population of obese children and adolescents. We evaluated 833 subjects (340 m, 493 f), aged 14.4 ± 2.5 (range 5.2–18.5) years, height SDS 0.27 ± 1.04 (−3.49–4.35), and BMI SDS 2.94 ± 0.59 (1.60–4.68). Body composition, free T4, TSH, anti-TPO antibodies, anti-TG antibodies, inflammation markers (total WBC and the subtypes, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein), and metabolic parameters [AST, ALT, γGT, ALP, glycaemia, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG)] were measured, and oral disposition index (ODI) and cardiovascular risk factors (TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C) were calculated. After exclusion of the subjects showing anti-thyroid antibodies, the remaining 779 (325 m, 454 f) were then subdivided into two subgroups according to a TSH value below (group A) or above (group B) 4.5 mU/L. Clinical characteristics and hematological markers of patients with and without positive anti-thyroid antibodies were similar, with the exception of higher TSH levels in the latter group. Using analysis of covariance, the subjects of group B had significantly higher values of TC (170.3 ± 28.7 vs 163.3 ± 32.9 mg/dL; p

Prematurity and low birth weight are associated with a decrease in bone mass. Aim of the study was to investigate bone geometry, strength, and quality in children born at term small for gestational age (term SGA), premature appropriate for gestational age (prem AGA), and premature SGA (prem SGA). 91 patients (46 f, 45 m), mean age 11.28 years, height SDS 0.03 ± 0.21, and BMI SDS −0.31 ± 0.19. 20 were term SGA, 22 prem SGA, and 49 prem AGA. Bone geometry was assessed on the 2nd metacarpal bone, by evaluating the outer and inner diameter, the cortical area, medullary area, metacarpal index, cross-sectional area, and bone strength. Bone quality was evaluated by ultrasound and expressed as amplitude-dependent speed of sound and bone transmission time (BTT). Term SGA, prem SGA, and prem AGA had values of bone geometry, strength, and quality significantly lower than our reference range (p