Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Obese Youth.

School nurses are well aware of the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, as one in three youth are overweight or obese. Co-morbidities found in overweight or obese adults were not commonly found in youth three decades ago but are now increasingly "normal" as the obesity epidemic continues to evolve. This article is the second of six related articles discussing the co-morbidities of childhood obesity and discusses the complex association between obesity and insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Health-related quality of life, depression, and metabolic parameters in overweight insulin-resistant adolescents.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and severity of depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in youth with insulin resistance (IR) who are overweight/obese and to examine the impact on making lifestyle changes.

Method: New patients presenting for treatment in an IR clinic were screened for depression and HRQoL and reassessed twice during a 1-year treatment period. Metabolic and growth parameters were obtained for each participant.