title: Changes in whole-body fat distribution, intrahepatic lipids, and insulin resistance of obese adolescents during a low-level lifestyle intervention.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze changes in adipose tissue (AT) distribution, intrahepatic lipids (IHL), and insulin resistance (IR) among a group of obese adolescents undergoing a 7-months low-level lifestyle intervention. Thirty-nine obese Caucasian adolescents (mean age 13.9 years, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDSLMS) 2.14) were included. AT and IHL were determined by T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy; IR was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). The lifestyle intervention led to a reduction of both BMI-SDSLMS (boys 2.27 to 2.17; girls 2.00 to 1.82) and HOMA-IR (boys 6.1 to 4.4 (p = 0.008); girls 6.2 to 4.7 (p = 0.030)). IHL dropped in both genders (boys 7.5 to 4.3 %; girls 4.6 to 3.4 %) positively correlating with HOMA-IR (boys r = 0.52; girls r = 0.68), while in contrast visceral AT did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the lifestyle intervention only slightly reduced BMI-SDSLMS, insulin sensitivity improved in both genders and came along with a marked reduction of IHL. This suggests that IHL might play the dominant role regarding insulin resistance in the youth, especially if compared to other AT compartments such as visceral AT.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  • MR imaging/spectroscopy can be used to evaluate body fat distribution and intrahepatic lipids in the youth. • The strength of associations between body fat compartments and insulin resistance is under scientific debate.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  • The study emphasizes that even a low-level lifestyle intervention has a beneficial effect. • The study suggests that intrahepatic lipids are an important factor in the development of insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. fabian-springer@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.affiliation: Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. v.ballweg@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ballweg
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. roland.schweizer@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.affiliation: Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. fritz.schick@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. michael.ranke@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ranke
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. gerhard.binder@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. stefan.ehehalt@gmx.net.|Public Health Department of Stuttgart, Department of Pediatrics, Dental Health Care, Health Promotion, and Social Services, Schloßstr.91, 70176, Stuttgart, Germany. stefan.ehehalt@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehehalt
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008019:Life Style; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Adipose tissue distribution; Adolescence; Insulin resistance; Intrahepatic lipids; Obesity