Insulin Resistance in Adolescents

Objectives

To investigate the relationship of other body mass index (BMI) ranges with Homeostasis Model Assessment–Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), a surrogate marker for insulin resistance in adolescents.

Study design

Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of 1837 nondiabetic, nonpregnant 12 to 19 year old persons from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002. The main outcome measurement of insulin resistance was calculated as HOMA-IR >3.16.

Results

Having a BMI ≥75^th percentile is associated with a high HOMA-IR levels. As the BMI percentile increases, the odds of high HOMA-IR levels increase (BMI percentile 75-84.9, OR 4.277, 95% CI 2.090-8.752; BMI percentile 85-94.9, OR 4.299, 95% CI 2.158-8.563; BMI ≥95^th percentile, OR 17.907, 95% CI 11.360-28.228).

Conclusion

Adolescents with BMI percentile of 75 to 84.9, which represents approximately 1.2 million US adolescents, have not previously been identified as having higher HOMA-IR levels.

Abbreviations: BMI, Body mass index, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CV fitness, Cardiovascular fitness, HOMA-IR, Homeostasis Model Assessment–Insulin Resistance, NCHS, National Center for Health Statistics, NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, PIR, Poverty income ratio