Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

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
[A study on the factors influencing insulin resistance in children and adolescents]
Ying Li1, Chang-Hao Sun, Ying Wen
1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
Insights
Childhood obesity, elevated leptin levels, and pubertal development are key factors contributing to insulin resistance in children aged 7-17. These elements independently increase the risk of developing insulin resistance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Nutritional Science
Context:
- Insulin resistance in children is a growing concern, particularly during pubertal development.
- Nutritional status significantly impacts metabolic health in pediatric populations.
- Understanding factors contributing to insulin resistance is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose:
- To investigate the influence of nutritional status and pubertal development on insulin resistance in children.
- To identify independent risk factors for insulin resistance in children aged 7 to 17 years.
Summary:
- This study compared insulin resistance markers in obese, normal, and malnourished children (aged 7-17).
- Obese children exhibited higher insulin and leptin levels, except in early puberty stages.
- Insulin sensitivity declined with pubertal progression and correlated negatively with leptin levels and Tanner stage.
Impact:
- Identifies obesity, leptin levels, and pubertal stage as independent risk factors for childhood insulin resistance.
- Provides insights for targeted interventions to mitigate insulin resistance in at-risk pediatric populations.
- Highlights the importance of monitoring metabolic health in children with varying nutritional statuses during puberty.
Objective:
To explore the factors influencing insulin resistance in children with different nutritional status during pubertal development.
Methods:
Three hundred children with simple obese aged 7 to 17 years, and 300 normal healthy children and 300 children with malnutrition, matched for age (+/- 3 months) and height (+/- 2 cm), were selected. Fasting serum levels of leptin, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured for them.
Results:
Levels of fasting serum insulin in obese children, except for boys at Tanner stage I and girls at Tanner stage II, were higher than those in normal and malnutrition children (P < 0.01). Average serum level of leptin in obese boys and girls at varied Tanner stages was higher than that in normal children, and higher in normal children than that in children with malnutrition (P<0.01). Serum level of TG in obese children [(1.53 +/- 0.13) mmol/L] was higher than that in normal ones [(1.12 +/- 0.10) mmol/L] and in children with malnutrition [(1.03 +/- 0.09) mmol/L]. There was no significant difference in levels of fasting blood glucose and other blood lipids between the three groups of children. Insulin sensitivity decreased with pubertal development and its index reversely correlated with Tanner stage and serum level of leptin (r=-0.27 and -0.36, respectively, P<0.01).
Conclusion:
Obesity (BMI), serum level of leptin and pubertal development were independent risk factors for insulin resistance in children aged 7 to 17 years.
Related Concept Videos
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction

