(05-05-06) Insulin resistance in obese adolescents.

Li HJ, Huang CY, Lee HC, Chen MR, Lo FS, Lin CH, Wang AM, Shih BF, Lee YJ.

Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

The prevalence of obesity in adolescents is increasing rapidly. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. We investigated insulin resistance in obese adolescents and its relationship to acanthosis nigricans. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured and each was expressed as a standard deviation score (SDS) based on national growth standards. Insulin resistance was estimated by using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) score, calculated as fasting insulin (microU/mL) x fasting glucose (mmol/L)/22.5. Obese adolescents had significantly greater weight-SDS, BMI-SDS, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA-IR than did controls with normal weight. Acanthosis nigricans was present in 58.4% of obese adolescents. Fasting insulin levels and BMI-SDS were positively correlated with the degree of acanthosis nigricans (r = 0.383, P<0.0001 and r = 0.164, P < 0.05, respectively). On multiple regression analysis, HOMA-IR and BMI-SDS explained 16.8% of the degree of acanthosis nigricans (P<0.0001). Acanthosis nigricans thus may be a marker of insulin resistance and should be carefully looked for in obese adolescents.

Acta Paediatr Taiwan. 2005 Mar-Apr;46(2):61-6.

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.