Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)
08:13

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)

Published on: January 7, 2018

Effect of changes in fat distribution on the rates of change of insulin response in children

Terry T-K Huang1, Maria S Johnson, Barbara A Gower

  • 1Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA.

Obesity Research
|October 12, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Childhood increases in visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat are linked to rising fasting insulin levels over three years. However, these fat changes did not impact insulin sensitivity in the study. This highlights abdominal fat

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, impacting metabolic health.
  • Understanding the relationship between different fat depots and insulin dynamics is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal associations between changes in visceral, subcutaneous abdominal, and total body fat and changes in fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity over three years in children.
  • To utilize mixed-effects models to analyze these complex relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Seventy-seven children (mean age 8.3 years) with at least three annual measures of fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity were included.
  • Abdominal fat was quantified using computed tomography (CT), and total body fat/lean mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
  • Longitudinal associations were examined using mixed-effects models.

Main Results:

  • Annual increases in visceral fat (1 cm²/yr) were associated with a 5% annual increase in fasting insulin, independent of subcutaneous abdominal fat.
  • A baseline difference in subcutaneous abdominal fat (1 cm²) predicted a 0.2% annual increase in fasting insulin, independent of visceral fat.
  • No significant associations were found between the rate of change in any fat measure and the rate of change in insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • The rate of change in visceral fat positively correlates with the rate of change in fasting insulin, independent of subcutaneous abdominal fat.
  • Subcutaneous abdominal fat appears more predictive of fasting insulin changes than visceral or total body fat.
  • Growth-related increases in abdominal fat, especially subcutaneous, may drive accelerating fasting insulin levels but do not affect insulin sensitivity in children.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance09:48

Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance

Published on: February 17, 2023

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults06:13

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults

Published on: December 1, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose01:16

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but this inhibition is released...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.