Weight loss in obese prepubertal children: the influence of insulin resistance.
BACKGROUND
Insulin resistance (IR), a link of paramount importance between obesity and cardiovascular/metabolic complications, seems to be implicated in weight changes.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether IR could influence weight status during a 1-year intervention program in obese prepubertal children.


METHODS
Forty-four children with IR (IR group) and 42 children without IR (NIR group) were enrolled. Body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference (WC), and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) were evaluated.


RESULTS
NIR children showed a significant reduction of BMI-SDS and WC at final assessment (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001, respectively), whereas IR children presented unchanged values. HOMA-IR decreased after intervention in the NIR group (p = 0.0008), but was exacerbated in IR children (p = 0.004). A positive and significant association between HOMA-IR at baseline and BMI at follow-up was found (B ± SE = 0.87 ± 0.24, p = 0.001). HOMA-IR at baseline was also significantly associated with WC at follow-up (B ± SE = 2.12 ± 0.69, p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
IR seems to influence adiposity changes in obese prepubertal children. Further longitudinal studies are needed to verify the relationship between IR and weight loss during childhood.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. valentinachiavaroli@hotmail.it
Valentina
V
Chiavaroli
Cosimo
C
Giannini
Ebe
E
D'Adamo
Tommaso
T
de Giorgis
Monica
M
Torello
Nicolantonio
N
D'Orazio
Simona
S
Sestili
Francesco
F
Chiarelli
Angelika
A
Mohn
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015431:Weight Loss