Adverse effects of obesity on lipid and lipoprotein levels in the patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes in the young.

We studied the association of obesity with serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 117 patients (62 males and 55 females) with NIDDY and in 40 nondiabetic control subjects (21 males and 19 females). Obesity at a young age was related to increased lipid and lipoprotein levels both in the patients with NIDDM and the control group. Moreover, low HDL-c levels were aggravated by diabetic status only in males. The BMI and fasting insulin level had a statistically significant correlation with the TG and HDL-c level and various atherogenic factors. Therefore, it is suggested that the lipid abnormalities seen in obesity may be associated with hyperinsulinemia. We conclude that obesity in adolescence leads to aberrations of the serum lipid and lipoprotein levels, particularly in obese males with NIDDY.