Published online Feb 8, 2018. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.43
Peer-review started: September 17, 2017
First decision: October 23, 2017
Revised: November 8, 2017
Accepted: November 27, 2017
Article in press: November 27, 2017
Published online: February 8, 2018
Processing time: 143 Days and 14.1 Hours
To determine the effect of childhood obesity and insulin resistance on bone health.
We conducted a cross sectional study in pubertal adolescents and young adults 13-20 years old who were either overweight/obese or normal weight. Participants were Tanner 3 or above for pubertal stage, and had fasting blood work done to measure glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein and lipid levels. Homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the formula (Fasting Blood Glucose *Insulin/405). Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic QDR 4500, Waltham, MA, United Kingdom).
Percent trunk fat was associated inversely with whole body bone mineral content (BMC), whereas HOMA-IR was associated positively with whole body BMC.
Our results suggest that abdominal adiposity may have an adverse effect on whole body bone parameters and that this effect is not mediated by insulin resistance.
Core tip: Abdominal adiposity has an adverse impact on whole body bone mineral content in adolescents. This effect does not seem to be mediated by the increased insulin resistance associated with increased abdominal adiposity. Attention to body composition rather than just body weight is needed to counsel adolescents regarding optimal bone health.