Study of Depressive Symptoms and Progression of Insulin Resistance in Youth at Risk for Adult Obesity

OBJECTIVEdThe purpose of this study was to determine whether having childhood depressivesymptomsisariskfactorthatprospectivelypredictsimpairmentinglucosehomeostasis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSd An on–treatment-seeking sample of 115 children (aged 5–13 years), oversampled for being at risk for adult obesity, was assessed at baseline and again ~6 years later. Children self-reported depressive symptoms using the Children’ sD epression Inventory at baseline. Insulin resistance was assessed at baseline and follow-up with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). RESULTSdChildren’sdepressivesymptomswereasignificantpredictoroffollow-upHOMA-IR, fasting insulin, and fasting glucose in models accounting for baseline HOMA-IR, insulin, or glucose values; sex; race; baseline age; baseline BMI; change in BMI at follow-up; family history of type 2 diabetes; and time in the study (P , 0.01). CONCLUSIONSdIn this study, depressive symptomatology at baseline predicted the progression of insulin resistance during child and adolescent development independent of changes in BMI. Research is needed to determine whether early intervention to decrease elevated depressive symptoms in youth ameliorates later development of insulin resistance and lessens the risk of type 2 diabetes.