Hyperinsulinism assessment in a sample of prepubescent children

Objectives: to determine the relationship between body mass index (bmi),homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance (homa-ir) and insulinemia. methods: this was a prospective cross-sectional observational study of 132 prepubescent schoolchildren residents in the municipality of santo andré,brazil. children underwent anthropometric assessment,their glycemia and insulinemia were measured and their homa-ir index calculated. results: seventy-eight of the 132 children (59.1%) were girls and 54 were boys (40.9%),with a mean age of 8.7 years and mean bmi of 13.7 kg/m2. a significant positive association was detected between homa-ir and bmi,insulin and bmi,weight and homa and between insulin and weight. it was also found that the higher the bmi,the greater the homa score. conclusions: the results of this study allow for the conclusion that there is a strong association between hyperinsulinism and obesity. measures should be taken to avoid weight gain during childhood and adolescence. copyright © 2010 by sociedade brasileira de pediatria.