Jeffery SC, et al. – Here the clinicians tested the hypothesis that the adverse metabolic profile of girls would persist from childhood through adolescence. They disclosed that in early pubertal girls the higher insulin resistance (IR) which diminishes during late puberty, however, boys begin to exhibit greater metabolic risk. Despite being leaner and more active, boys at 16 years had increased IR than girls. Hence, these findings indicated increased future risk for diabetes in boys.

Methods

• This study included 292 children (147 boys).
• Measures: IR (homeostasis–model–assessment–2), high–density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL–C), triglycerides, % body–fat (dual–energy x–ray absorptiometry), pubertal stage (age at peak height velocity), physical activity (accelerometry).
• Multi–level modelling developed the age–related trends in IR and lipids and the influence of covariates.

Results

• Each year from 9 to 15 years, girls had 21% to 63% higher IR than boys (girls mean IR 0.73–1.33, boys 0.51–0.89, P < .005).
• The gender difference was not significant at 16 years (girls IR 0.60, boys 0.56, P = .45).
• Fidnings represented that girls had lower HDL–C from 9 to 12 years, higher triglycerides from 9 to 14 years, greater adiposity throughout, and earlier puberty, but boys were more active than girls (all P < .05).
• After adjustment for %–fat, puberty and activity, the gender difference in IR between girls and boys aged 9 to 15 years became non–significant (IR girls 0.66–1.01, boys 0.65–1.04, P > .07).
• However, after adjustment at 16 years, girls’ IR was 25% lower than boys’ (girls 0.44, boys 0.63, P = .001), and they had 22% higher HDL–C (P < .001) and 20% lower triglycerides (P = .003).