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

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/m2, 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.