Associations of overweight with insulin resistance, beta-cell function and inflammatory markers in Chinese adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a growing global health problem. Obesity-associated inflammatory and metabolic consequences may vary in different ethnic populations, and data in Chinese adolescents are sparse. In this study, we analysed the clinical and biochemical factors associated with overweight and obesity in Chinese adolescents.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional cohort study with 2102 Chinese adolescents randomly selected from 14 secondary schools in Hong Kong. Clinical and biochemical parameters including inflammatory markers, among different groups stratified by degrees of obesity, were compared by multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The median age was 16 yr (interquartile range: 14-17 yr) (45.6% boys and 54.4% girls). Among the boys, 16.5% were overweight and 6.8% were obese. The respective percentages in girls were 8.2 and 5.8%. Compared with the group with normal weight in both boys and girls, high systolic blood pressure (SBP), increased insulin resistance (by homoeostasis model assessment, HOMA-IR), elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level were independently associated with overweight/obesity. In boys, the respective odds ratio (95% CI) was 1.03 (1.01-1.05) for SBP, 21.0 (12.0-36.8) for HOMA-IR, 3.65 (2.10-6.35) for hsCRP and 0.24 (0.11-0.51) for HDL-C. In girls, the respective figures were 1.02 (1.00-1.04), 9.82 (5.65-17.1), 6.28 (3.12-12.6) and 0.18 (0.08-0.41). In girls, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also independently associated with overweight/obesity [1.56 (1.09-2.24)].


CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese adolescents, overweight/obesity is independently associated with SBP, insulin resistance, hsCRP and low HDL-C. Early intervention in overweight and obese adolescents may potentially retard the development of these cardiovascular risk factors.
Kong
Alice P S
AP
Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Choi
Kai-Chow
KC
Ko
Gary T C
GT
Wong
Gary W K
GW
Ozaki
Risa
R
So
Wing-Yee
WY
Tong
Peter C Y
PC
Chan
Juliana C N
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein