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Hyperinsulinism as a marker in obese children
R Zannolli1, A Rebeggiani, F Chiarelli
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
Insights
Hyperinsulinemic obese children showed poorer weight loss outcomes compared to normoinsulinemic children. Further research into hyperinsulinemic children is recommended for effective obesity treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with complex metabolic implications.
- Insulin resistance and associated metabolic profiles can influence weight management in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between insulin levels, metabolic profiles, and weight loss in obese children.
- To compare weight loss outcomes between normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic obese children.
Main Methods:
- Metabolic screening, including insulinemia and glycemia, was performed on 18 obese male children (ages 5-16).
- Participants underwent longitudinal weight loss treatment.
- Subjects were categorized into normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic groups for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- A direct correlation between treatment duration and weight loss was observed in the overall cohort.
- Hyperinsulinemic obese children exhibited a lower percentage reduction in excess weight.
- Weight loss in the hyperinsulinemic group was independent of treatment duration.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining treatment adherence in normoinsulinemic obese children may be beneficial.
- Further in-depth investigation of hyperinsulinemic obese children is warranted to optimize treatment strategies.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between insulin and the metabolic profile and eventual weight loss in obese children.
Design:
We first attempted to define the metabolic profile for 18 obese children; we then studied weight loss in this group longitudinally.
Setting:
Department of Pediatrics in a university hospital.
Participants:
Eighteen randomly selected, young, obese male subjects from 5 to 16 years of age.
Interventions:
(1) Metabolic screening at the outset, including insulinemia and glycemia after the oral glucose tolerance test and plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and (2) weight loss treatment.
Results:
We divided the sample into "normoinsulinemic" and "hyperinsulinemic" groups, similar for all the variables tested except for weight loss and plasma triglyceride levels. A direct relationship between weight loss results and duration of treatment was found for the entire group. The "hyperinsulinemic" group had a lower percentage reduction in excess weight, and the results in this group were not dependent on the duration of treatment.
Conclusions:
The effort to keep "normoinsulinemic" obese children in treatment may be useful; it is advisable to study "hyperinsulinemic" children more in depth.