Obesity and insulin resistance in childhood.

Obesity is a serious risk factor for insulin resistance leading to diabetes and other disorders. As it is also occurring at ever younger age groups the aim of this study was to compare average levels of the homeostatic indices HOMA and QUICKI in obese compared to healthy children in an effort to find convenient markers for insulin sensitivity in clinical pediatric practice. Twenty one obese and 29 healthy children were selected. The average level of HOMA in obese children was 3.6, in healthy children 1.7 while the average level of QUICKI in obese children was 0.33 and in healthy children 0.36. The results demonstrate the possibility of insulin sensitivity assessment using these indices in pediatric practice. QUICKI has a narrower confidence interval and thus lower variability.