Relation between Severity of NAFLD and Insulin Resistance in Obese Children

Abstract

Childhood obesity became a worldwide epidemic in the last few years. Its comorbidities affect almost all body systems, it causes diseases in children that was known before as adult disease like DM, hypertension and fatty liver. Obesity and its complications are preventable diseases so,early diagnosis by screening children aged 6 years and older for obesity and its prevention became a public health concern. Pharmacotherapy and MBS also have an important role in treatment of childhood obesity. Insulin resistance is one of the most important causes of metabolic syndrome associated with obesity which main component is NAFLD. NAFLD became the most common liver disease in pediatric population, it progress into NASH and by time it leads to cirrhosis and liver cell failure. NAFLD is mainly asymptomatic in its early stages in which it can be reversible. So early diagnosis of NAFLD by screening obese children is very important to prevent liver cell failure. Weight management is the only treatment of early stages of NAFLD. HOMA IR is the most simple way to asses insulin resistance, and it is believed to be related to the severity of NAFLD.