Evaluation of retinochoroidal microvascular parameters and biochemical markers in childhood obesity.

Cross-sectionalMicrovascular research· Aug 2026

Evaluation of retinochoroidal microvascular parameters and biochemical markers in childhood obesity.

Tevfik Serhat Bahar, Yasemin Funda Bahar, Olgar Öcal … Mesut Parlak

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Pediatric Gastroenterology & NutritionCross-sectionalQ2IF 3.1

Foveal avascular zone is smaller in children with obesity than normal-weight children

Evaluation of retinochoroidal microvascular parameters and biochemical markers in childhood obesity.

Tevfik Serhat Bahar … Mesut Parlak

Microvascular research · Aug 2026

Purpose

To evaluate retinochoroidal microvascular changes and their association with biochemical parameters in children with obesity.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 100 children aged 6-15 years (50 obese, 50 normal weight).

n = 100 children

Results

smaller avascular zone, less capillary-free space around the fovea in obesity

Obese FAZ area

262.11μm2

Control FAZ area

316.47μm2

More results

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was significantly reduced in the central region (9.35 ± 5.51 μm vs 11.25 ± 4.65 μm, p = 0.041).

Ganglion cell layer thickness was significantly lower in the temporal (81.55 ± 10.07 μm vs 87.42 ± 9.81 μm, p = 0.022) and inferior regions (85.73 ± 13.29 μm vs 92.69 ± 10.06 μm, p = 0.028).

More results

No significant differences were observed in SCP, DCP, or choriocapillaris vessel densities.

Foveal SCP and DCP vessel densities were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure and positively associated with HDL cholesterol.

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Conclusion

Childhood obesity is associated with foveal avascular zone reduction and thinning of retinal neural layers. Retinal microvascular findings may reflect the influence of vascular and metabolic risk factors in pediatric obesity.