A View of Things to Come
Being able to reliably identify children who will be at increased cardiometabolic risk as they grow older would be tremendously useful. Many studies have looked at the link between obesity and metabolic syndrome—the cluster of symptoms including large waist size, hypertension, poor glycemic control, and dyslipidemia.
One group of researchers reported the results of a study that examined the influence of insulin resistance and body mass index (BMI) at age 13 on systolic blood pressure and levels of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol at age 19. Participants included children in a longitudinal study of insulin and blood pressure. Aside from physical exams, participants had an insulin clamp test done at ages 13, 15, and 19.
Analysis of data revealed that BMI at age 13 did not predict risk factors at age 19, but the change in BMI between 13 and 19 did. Insulin resistance at age 13 predicted higher systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome risk, but had no significant association with HDL.
The results suggest that insulin resistance has an effect that is independent from BMI. Reducing insulin resistance, in addition to managing weight, “may be needed to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular risk,” the researchers conclude.
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