Childhood Obesity and Insulin Resistance

There is no denying that obesity in adolescents is on the rise and increasing greatly past previous decade's statistics. One in every three children ages 2-19 is overweight or obese. The devastating consequences of this epidemic create a desperate need for action. With the major changes that have taken place in the American lifestyle in the past several decades, its no wonder we are seeing this trend. Coupling processed foods and unhealthy fast-food diets with virtually no physical activity, the outcome is a more overweight generation than ever seen in the past. With this rise of obesity in children comes the risk of future health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, insulin resistance, and eventually type II diabetes.

With in the study "Young adults obese subjects with and without insulin resistance: what is the role of chronic inflammation and how to weigh it non-invasiveley?", the goal was to obtain the differences between young obese individuals with and without insulin resistance, the role that visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue have on hepatic steatosis, and determining spleen size and which inflamation markers correspond with insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. The results showed that CRP and fibrinogen as well as spleen diameter were increased in the obese young with insulin resistance compared to non-insulin resistance young adults. Insulin resistance was significantly related to spleen size, hepatic steatosis, and the inflammation marker CRP. Metabolic syndrome was much more prevelant in obese young adults with insulin resistance, being that it is associated with a proinflammatory state that contributes to insulin resistance.

Raising awareness in prevention of childhood obesity and switching to a healthier lifestyle is crucial if we want to see a decline in this life-threatening trend. Switching from the research article to recent events, First Lady Michelle Obama has become an extremely influential advocate in this particular issue. In February, she launched a nationwide campaign, "Let's Move", in hopes to solve the growing challenge of childhood obesity. Her goals are to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge needed to make changes in their children's lives, provide healthier food in schools, improve access to healthy, affordable food, and motivate children to become more physically active. The threat of childhood obesity is one that will not go away instantly, but the steps in Michelle Obama's campaign are key components to changing this generation's lifestyle for the better.