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Insulin secretion and its association with physical activity, fitness and screen time in children

M Henderson1, K Gray-Donald, R Rabasa-Lhoret

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte Justine, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|September 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Lower insulin secretion in children with obese parents is linked to less body fat, more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and better fitness. Reduced screen time may also play a role.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Metabolic health
  • Lifestyle and child health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity and parental obesity are significant public health concerns.
  • Insulin secretion is a key indicator of pancreatic beta-cell function and metabolic health.
  • Understanding lifestyle factors influencing insulin secretion in at-risk children is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the independent associations between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, screen time, adiposity, and insulin secretion in children.
  • To identify key modifiable factors that may influence beta-cell function in youth with a predisposition to obesity.

Main Methods:

  • The study included Caucasian youth aged 8-10 years with at least one obese biological parent (QUALITY cohort).
  • Insulin secretion was assessed using HOMA2-%B and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-derived measures (AUC I/G).
  • Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured by accelerometry, fitness by VO₂peak, adiposity by DXA (percent fat mass - PFM), and screen time was self-reported.

Main Results:

  • Percent fat mass (PFM) was strongly associated with increased insulin secretion across all indices, independent of insulin sensitivity.
  • Higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with lower HOMA2-%B.
  • Better cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂peak) was associated with lower 2-hour insulin to glucose area under the curve (AUC I/G(t120min)).

Conclusions:

  • In children with a parental history of obesity, lower insulin secretion is associated with lower adiposity and higher levels of physical activity and fitness.
  • These findings highlight the importance of maintaining healthy adiposity levels, promoting physical activity, and enhancing fitness in children at risk for metabolic dysfunction.
Abstract

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