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Unfit
Teens Headed Toward Insulin Resistance
If your child is unfit and overweight, she may be in danger
of developing insulin resistance, an early sign of diabetes.
The Medical College of Georgia finding was presented at
the American Heart Association's annual conference on cardiovascular
disease epidemiology and prevention.
The study included 289 teenagers aged 14 to 18 from high
schools near Augusta, Ga. Their insulin sensitivity was
estimated using fasting blood tests for insulin and glucose
(blood sugar).
Cardiovascular fitness was measured by determining how much
oxygen each teen used when his heart rate reached 170 beats
a minute while walking on a treadmill. The researchers also
collected information about the teens' body composition
(amount of fat versus fat-free mass) and their abdominal
fat.
The study found lower body fat and higher cardiovascular
fitness were associated with greater insulin sensitivity,
which is a measure of how well the body responds to insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that carries carbohydrates from the
blood into cells. The cells turn the carbohydrates into
energy.
High insulin sensitivity means that the body responds well
to insulin. Low insulin sensitivity, which is also called
insulin resistance, is often a precursor to diabetes.
This study also found that race and gender affected insulin
sensitivity. It was highest among white girls and lowest
among black girls.
The finding that lower body fat and better cardiovascular
fitness are associated with higher insulin sensitivity suggests
that improving fitness and reducing body fat may be ways
to protect children who are high risk of developing diabetes.
Here's where you can learn more about insulin
resistance
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
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