Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in Lebanese adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese adolescents has been reported to range between 18-42%, depending on country of origin, thus suggesting an ethnic-based association between obesity and MS.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the magnitude of the association between obesity, insulin resistance and components of MS among adolescents in Lebanon.


METHODS
The sample included 263 adolescents at 4(th) and 5(th) Tanner stages of puberty (104 obese; 78 overweight; 81 normal weight). Anthropometric, biochemical and blood pressure measurements were performed. Body fat was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
According to International Diabetes Federation criteria, MS was identified in 21.2% of obese, 3.8% of overweight and 1.2% of normal weight subjects. The most common metabolic abnormalities among subjects having MS were elevated waist circumference (96.2%), low HDL (96.2%) and hypertriglyceridemia (73.1%). Insulin resistance was identified in all subjects having MS. Regression analyses showed that percentage body fat, waist circumference and BMI were similar in their ability to predict the MS in this age group.


CONCLUSIONS
MS was identified in a substantial proportion of Lebanese obese adolescents, thus highlighting the importance of early screening for obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities and of developing successful multi-component interventions addressing adolescent obesity.
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Lara
L
Nasreddine
Farah
F
Naja
Maya
M
Tabet
Mohammad-Zuheir
MZ
Habbal
Aida
A
El-Aily
Chrystel
C
Haikal
Samira
S
Sidani
Nada
N
Adra
Nahla
N
Hwalla
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000208:ethnology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology*; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL