Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Children Referred to an Obesity Center

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents. Subjects: The cohort consisted of 518 patients, 250 boys, 268 girls, age ± sd: 11.8 ± 3.2 years, BMIsds ± sd: 2.94 ± 0.5. A standard OGTT was performed. Results: Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 9.4% of the boys and 5.5% of the girls. Impaired fasting glucose was found in 12.4% of the boys and 11.6% of the girls. The metabolic syndrome was present in 13.9% of children of 10 years or older. The proportion in which the metabolic syndrome was diagnosed was essentially not altered when pubertal groups were used instead of age groups. Conclusion: Both impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance as well as the metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent among obese children and adolescents.

Impaired fasting glucose prevalence in two nationwide cohorts of obese children and adolescents

“…Although the prevalence increased with age, IFG was also relatively common among young obese children. In our cohorts, IFG was more common among boys than girls, which is consistent with some 15, 18, 19 but not all 20 previous studies. It has previously been shown that the prevalence of IFG is higher among obese adolescents than non-obese adolescents.…”

“…14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 However, it is well established that IFG is an unstable condition, and hence normal fasting glucose measurements may be present between periods with IFG. 4, 27 Therefore, either repeated measurements of fasting glucose or large cohorts are required to establish the prevalence of IFG, and it is possible that the sample size partly can explain the previously reported differences in IFG prevalence.…”

“…European studies are reporting prevalences from 0% in Italy 14 (WHO criteria) to 16% in the Netherlands (ADA criteria), 15, 16 and American studies range between 2 and 9% (WHO criteria) and 15–47% (ADA criteria). 17, 18, 19 However, most reports have been based on samples too small to be representative for entire populations, and it is, therefore, unclear whether the marked variations in prevalence represent a true variation among obese children in different geographic areas.…”

Cardiometabolic risk factors and insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents: relation to puberty

“…Brufani et al . found similarly that IGT was the most frequent alteration with a higher prevalence in adolescents than in children with obesity , although other authors found the opposite . IFG seemed to be useless to predict IGT .…”

Insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in obese children

“…I read with great interest the article by Rotteveel et al (1) , who describe insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents. In this study, Rotteveel et al have reported that the metabolic syndrome was present in 13.9 % of children 10 years or older.…”