A Study on the Factors influencing insulin resistance in obese adolescents

Objective: To explore the factors influencing insulin resistance in obese Chinese children. Methods: We randomly selected 53 children with uncomplicated obesity between 9 to14 years of age, and 29 normal healthy children, matched for age and sex. Anthropometric and plasma biochemical variables(including lipid profiles, glucose and insulin) were measured using standard methods. We calculated insulin resistance(IR) index using homeostasis model assessment(HOMA) methods and measured plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) levels using nephelometric methods. All statistical analyses were conducted using the statistical package SPSS. Results: Levels of fasting serum insulin, hs-CRP, total cholesterol(TC), low density lipoproteins cholesterol(LDL-C) and IR index were higher in obese children than in controls, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) values were lower in the obese children. There was no significant difference in levels of fasting blood glucose between the two groups. HOMA-IR was used as the dependent variable in multivariate regression analysis. Significant independent predictors for insulin resistance adjusted for waist/hip ratio, diastolic pressure (DBP), BMI, triglycerides and HDL-C level were waist circumference(WC), weight and systolic pressure(SBP). Conclusion: Waist circumference, weight and SBP are predictors of insulin resistance syndrome in Chinese adolescents