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Despite a sufficient number of scientific studies devoted to the study of myopia risk factors, the influence of obesity on the degree of myopia risk in childhood has not been sufficiently studied, which prompted us to study this issue using children as an example. The aim is to study the frequency and degree of myopia risk in overweight and obese children. Material and Methods. The sample of children for the study was formed step by step in the process of randomization. The first stage included a one-time epidemiological study of children aged 10-18 years during preventive examinations in schools of Chernivtsi and Chernivtsi region (1,035 persons). The primary screening included anthropometry and assessment of physical development. For detailed examination 205 persons were selected: with overweight (OW, 65 persons), with obesity (75 persons) and with normal body weight (65 persons, comparison group). The ophthalmologic examination included: visometry without and with correction, autorefractokeratometry before and after cycloplegia, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, optical biometry of the eye. To reveal the statistical difference between indicators in normally distributed groups, the Student's t criterion of reliability was used, the degree of significance - r. Comparison of groups on a qualitative basis was performed using Pearson's χ2 test. Differences were considered statistically significant at p <0.05. The research design and all methods used in this study were reviewed and approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Bukovinian State Medical University (Protocol No. 10, dated 18.05.2002). The study was conducted within the research work «Early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of combined pathology of gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland in children» (state registration number 0116U002937, implementation period 02.2016-11.2022). Results. The frequency of myopia in children with OW and obesity was significantly higher than in children with average body weight (χ2 = 3.2, p < 0.05). Children with obesity and myopia were 2.7 times more likely to have diseases of the musculoskeletal system, 1.8 times more likely to have pathology of the autonomic nervous system, and 3.1 times more likely to have chronic diseases of the oropharynx than children in the control group. In all groups of children, the additional risk was greatest in children whose mother or father was myopic (49.6 and 41.3 %, respectively). Minimal additional risk was associated with a history of childhood infections (<1.6 %), helminthiasis (<3.9 %), nasal polyps (<3.4 %), adenoids (<2.4 %), and spinal cord injury at birth (<9.1 %). The odds ratio for the development of low myopia in the group with OW and obesity compared to the control group (normal weight) were 1.25 [95 % CI 0.56-2.82] and 0.88 [95 % CI 0.49-1. 58], for the development of moderate myopia - 1.22 [95 % CI 0.57-2.59] and 0.82 [95 % CI 0.46-1.49], respectively, and for the development of high myopia-1.37 [95 % CI 0.51-3.66] and 0.80 [95 % CI 0.49-2.09], respectively. Conclusion. The risk of myopia is higher in children with overweight and obesity, which emphasizes the importance and necessity of taking into account the somatic condition of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Obesity affects 27–34 % of children and is considered a major public health problem. As more and more children suffer from overweight, health professionals need to find effective methods of obesity prevention and treatment. The purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of family behavioral therapy in the treatment of obese children. Materials and methods. For one year, 57 obese patients aged 7–12 years were under observation, they were randomly divided into 2 groups: a treatment group of 34 children (I) and a comparison group of 23 people (II). Group I children participated in the family behavioral treatment program, which included hypocaloric nutrition, control over the family environment, and dosed, controlled physical activity. The blood lipid spectrum was studied by the level of total cholesterol (TCh), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Ch) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch). Results. In obese children, both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were elevated (mean of 125.9 ± 0.9 mm Hg and 66.9 ± 1.2 mm Hg, respectively), an increase in the concentration of TCh, TG, and LDL-Ch was detected. One year after family behavioral therapy, body mass index in obese children decreased from 26.8 to 25.1 kg/m², changes in SBP and DBP were statistically significant between groups (group I: SBP before was 124.9 ± 0.8 mm Hg, after — 118.9 ± 0.9 mm Hg, p < 0.05; DBP was 65.7 ± 1.2 mm Hg and 62.1 ± 1.0 mm Hg, respectively, p < 0.05; group II: SBP before the program was 125.1 ± 0.7 mm Hg, after — 126.9 ± 0.8 mm Hg, p > 0.05, DBP was 66.6 ± 1.1 mm Hg and 67.7 ± 1.2 mm Hg, respectively, p > 0.05), and there were also significant changes in blood lipids: the level of cholesterol decreased by 0.87 times, TG — by 0.94 times, with a tendency to LDL-Ch decrease and HDL-Ch increase. Conclusions. Multicomponent family behavioral therapy is effective in reducing the body mass index of obese children. The obtained results indicate the need to apply the proposed treatment program in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]