EARLY CHANGES IN INSULIN SECRETION AND SENSITIVITY IN OBESE CHILDREN

Hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance characterize obesity in adults. The natural history of these abnormalities was studied in 16 children aged 12.8 ± 1.4 years with obesity of 0,5-8.5 yr duration, compared with 11 age-matched children. Fasting insulin was normal initially, then increased with obesity duration (r=O.68, p<0.005), not with children age (r=0.30, NS). in contrast insulin response to a normal meal was increased by 75% in the lirst years of obesity without later augmentation, (p<0.0005). Neither fasting nor post-prandial insulin correlated with weight.