Maggio ABR, et al. - A single center randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to determine the impact of a family-based behavioral intervention on the association between arterial function, blood pressure and biomarkers in pre-pubertal children with obesity. For this investigation, 74 children were randomized to a 6-month behavioral intervention to treat obesity. In hypertensive children, the neutrophil product (MMP-8) concentration was higher. Findings revealed that behavioral interventions resulted in a paradoxical increase in some biomarkers in children, with potentially beneficial effects detected with cytokine changes. When using non-specific serum biomarkers for the clinical monitoring of children with obesity, caution should be taken.