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Insulin resistance in children and adolescents

Joyce M Lee1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. joyclee@umich.edu

Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders
|December 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Insulin resistance (IR) links obesity to type 2 diabetes and heart disease in children. Over half of obese US adolescents have IR, highlighting the need for early assessment and intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disease

Background:

  • Insulin resistance (IR) is a key factor connecting obesity with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Various methods exist to measure IR in children, ranging from the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to simpler fasting glucose and insulin measurements.
  • Risk factors for pediatric IR include adiposity, race/ethnicity, puberty, family history of diabetes, sex, and prematurity, with obesity being the most significant.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of insulin resistance in pediatric obesity.
  • To discuss risk factors associated with insulin resistance in children.
  • To highlight the importance of assessing IR in obese children for disease prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on insulin resistance measurement and risk factors in children.
  • Analysis of studies correlating obesity with insulin resistance in pediatric populations.
  • Discussion of the clinical implications of identifying IR in obese youth.

Main Results:

  • Obesity is the primary risk factor for IR in children.
  • More than 50% of obese adolescents in the U.S. exhibit insulin resistance.
  • Established risk factors for IR in children are multifactorial, including genetic and environmental influences.

Conclusions:

  • Insulin resistance is a critical pathophysiologic link between childhood obesity and future cardiometabolic diseases.
  • Formal assessment of IR in obese children is crucial for effective weight management and chronic disease prevention strategies.
  • Early identification and intervention for IR in pediatric obesity can improve long-term health outcomes.

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