Insulin and leptin levels in overweight and normal-weight Iranian adolescents: The CASPIAN-III study

• Main Authors: Ehsan Bahrami, Parisa Mirmoghtadaee, Gelayol Ardalan, Hamid Zarkesh-Esfahani, Mohammad Hassan Tajaddini, Shaghayegh Haghjooy-Javanmard, Hananeh Najafi, Roya Kelishadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Children; insulin; leptin; obesity; overweight
• Online Access: http://www.jmsjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-1995;year=2014;volume=19;issue=5;spage=387;epage=390;aulast=Bahrami
• ISSN: 1735-1995; 1735-7136

Background: In this study, we aim to compare insulin and leptin levels in adolescents with or without excess weight and in those with or without abdominal obesity. Materials and Methods : This case-control study was conducted among 486 samples. We randomly selected 243 overweight and an equal number of normal-weight adolescents from among participants of the third survey of a national surveillance program entitled "Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and PreventIon of Adult Non-communicable diseases study." Serum insulin and leptin were compared between two groups and their correlation was determined with other variables. Results: The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of participants were 14.10 ± 2.82 years and 22.12 ± 6.49 kg/m 2 , respectively. Leptin and insulin levels were higher in overweight than in normal-weight adolescents (P < 0.05). Leptin level was higher in children with abdominal obesity than in their other counterparts (P < 0.001). Leptin level was correlated with age, fasting blood glucose, BMI, and insulin level. Conclusion: Insulin and leptin levels were higher among overweight and obese children, which may reflect insulin and leptin-resistance. Given the complications of excess weight from early life, prevention and controlling childhood obesity should be considered as a health priority.