Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in Lebanese adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundPrevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese adolescents has been reported to range between 18–42%, depending on country of origin, thus suggesting an ethnic-based association between obesity and MS.AimThis study aims to investigate the magnitude of the association between obesity, insulin resistance and components of MS among adolescents in Lebanon.Subjects and methodsThe sample included 263 adolescents at 4th and 5th Tanner stages of puberty (104 obese; 78 overweight; 81 normal weight). Anthropometric, biochemical and blood pressure measurements were performed. Body fat was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsAccording to International Diabetes Federation criteria, MS was identified in 21.2% of obese, 3.8% of overweight and 1.2% of normal weight subjects. The most common metabolic abnormalities among subjects having MS were elevated waist circumference (96.2%), low HDL (96.2%) and hypertriglyceridemia (73.1%). Insulin resistance was identified in all subjects having MS. Regression analyses showed that percentage body fat, waist circumference and BMI were similar in their ability to predict the MS in this age group.ConclusionsMS was identified in a substantial proportion of Lebanese obese adolescents, thus highlighting the importance of early screening for obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities and of developing successful multi-component interventions addressing adolescent obesity.

Trends in Nutritional Intakes and Nutrition-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Lebanon : The Need for Immediate Action

“…Of more concern is the high prevalence of MS documented among obese children and adolescents in Lebanon. Based on the modified Adult Treatment Panel III definition, the MS was identified in 26.4% of obese prepubertal children (n = 140) [42] and 24% of obese adolescents (n = 263) [43], thus exceeding prevalence rates reported among obese youth from several developed countries such as France (14.9%) [44], Italy (16.5%) [45] and Spain (18.0%) [46].…”

“…Emerging evidence points to the presence of early functional, and morphologic, changes to the heart and blood vessels. These may be apparent in obese subjects with the MS as early as in childhood [42][43]47]. The inflammatory response related to fat accumulation may influence cardiovascular risk through its involvement not only in body weight homeostasis, but also in coagulation, fibrinolysis, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance (IR) and atherosclerosis [8].…”

Reproductive function in premenopausal African Blacks with metabolic syndrome: Associations among inhibin B, adipokines, pituitary and sex hormones and sex hormone binding globulin

“…Now prevalent in Africa and associated with the female gender, the MS can cause disorders of female reproduction, high incidence of menstrual dysfunction, anovulation and infertility in obese women of reproductive age. 44.5% prevalence of MS, with abdominal obesity as the most frequent MS component was recently reported among apparently healthy women in Nigeria (Nasreddine et al, 2012, Charles-Davies et al, 2014.…”

“…The inhibitory effect of hyperinsulinaemia on normal folliculogenesis and decreased fertility in obese women has been reported and hyperinsulinemia has been associated with aberrant corpus luteal function while the endometrium may be detrimentally affected by high leptin levels and insulin resistance (Agbaje et al, 2007). Granulosa cell activity and follicular production of inhibin B are decreased in obesity (Nasreddine et al, 2012).…”

Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Comparison of Two Different Diagnostic Criteria

“…The increase in the prevalence of obesity in youths has been paralleled by an increase in the prevalence of pediatric MS [31,32]. A study conducted in Turkey showed that among children and adolescents 2-19 years of age, a 1-point increase in the BMI z-score resulted in a twofold increase in the prevalence of MS [33].…”