Introduction and Objectives: Adolescent obesity escalates cardiometabolic complications and insulin resistance (IR). While adult IR criteria are clear, their adaptation for adolescents is inconsistent due to standardization challenges. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of insulin resistance and its association with anthropometric measurements, cutaneous indicators, and specific biochemical parameters in overweight and obese adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted encompassing 182 adolescents aged 10-19. Participants underwent comprehensive assessments, including physical examinations, questionnaires, and biochemical tests.
Results: The study divided participants into normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups. It found high rates of central obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia, especially among obese participants. The mean HOMA-IR value stood at 3.5, with 62.6% of participants displaying insulin resistance, more common in males (66.6%) than females (58.6%). Pubertal individuals showed a higher incidence (82.2%). Signs suggesting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were prominent in overweight and obese groups. In total, 13.18% had metabolic syndrome, with varying degrees of its components present in others.IR was also linked with sleep disturbances, low physical activity, and excessive screen time.
Conclusion: Our study unveiled critical surrogate markers for IR in overweight and obese adolescents. Comprehensive clinical assessments, prompt lifestyle changes, and therapeutic measures are essential in addressing IR and related conditions. Recognizing and responding to these markers early could be fundamental for mitigating associated health risks and optimizing clinical management strategies for overweight and obese adolescents.
Keywords Obesity; Insulin resistance; Adolescence; Dyslipidemia, and Metabolic syndrome
S. Chhabra: None. S. Chhabra: None. R. Patil: None. S. Arora: None. N. Chhabra: None.
