The prevalence of insulin resistance and obesity and their correlation in school-age children

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Tsunan town is counted among the leading "longevity towns" in Niigata prefecture, Japan. Of the junior school 3rd graders (14 to 15 years old) participating in the health check-up program (participation rate : 100%) sponsored by the town in 2009-10, 157 (86 males and 71 females) were included in this study. Fasting blood samples were taken from the subjects to examine the presence of insulin resistance. Homeostasis model assessment as an index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated based on their fasting insulin and glucose levels. Presence of insulin resistance was defined as a HOMA-IR of 2.5 or greater, and presence of obesity defined by BMI (22.96 or greater for males and 23.66 or greater for females). The percentage of those who met either definition was investigated for each sex.Nine males (10.6%) versus 12 females (16.9%) were diagnosed as insulin-resistant, while 8 males (9.4%) versus 7 females (9.9%) were diagnosed as obese, with 3 each (3.5% versus 4.2%) diagnosed as both insulin-resistant and obese in either sex.In a survey involving virtually all the junior high school 3rd grader residents in a local town, the frequency of individuals diagnosed as insulin-resistant or obese was shown to be about 10% among the children of each sex. However, the diagnoses of insulin resistance and obesity were found not necessarily consistent in both males and females.