Insulin Resistance and Exercise in Adolescents
Amy Fish & Cyler Matlock
ESS 5336
11/25/14
Abstract
Objective: To examine studies on the effects of exercise on insulin resistance in the adolescent population. Insulin resistance is a common trait in obese and overweight individuals. When the cell resists insulin, glucose is unable to be converted into energy. This causes an excess of glucose in the blood and is then stored as fat. Exercise has been found to decrease insulin resistance and decrease blood glucose levels.
Design: We investigated four studies that examined the effects of exercise on insulin resistance. Three of the studies observed long term effects, while only only one study tested the short term effects.
Conclusion: From the four main studies that were examined, we can conclude that regular exercise over 6 months significantly lowers insulin resistance levels in obese children, long-term multidisciplinary therapy considerably lowers metabolic syndrome in obese patients, 13-weeks aerobic training demonstrated dose-response benefits for insulin resistance and percent body fat, and a single-bout of moderate intensity exercise improves insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin levels in adolescents.
Introduction
The increasing epidemic of childhood obesity has caused the scientific community to look further into the initiating factors causing this major public health concern. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported
Obesity in our youth has been identified as one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. (Lobestein). Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to develop sleep apnoea, breathlessness on exertion and reduced exercise tolerance, some orthopaedic and gastrointestinal problems, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and early signs of metabolic and clinical consequences, such as hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and type 2 diabetes. (WHO, DENNY W) A major long-term consequence is that overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults, with an increased risk of chronic diseases and early mortality. (BRIO FM)
Children can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by changing their eating habits and participate in physical activity. Weight in children has become a great concern because more children are becoming overweight or obese, hence increases the number of cases of children being exposed for pre-diabetes or already have the disease. According to Wilson, type 2 diabetes is more common in individuals with a family history of diabetes and in young female adults (2013). Furthermore, when children are diagnosed with this disease it places them more at risk for other non-communicable diseases such as heart disease. Hence, they are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and blindness. Children with the presence of insulin resistance have a high risk for type 2 diabetes. Most of the children affected are minority overweight children (International Journal of Obesity, 2009).
As mentioned previously, exercise is seen as one of the cornerstones of a healthy life. A review of 86 scientific papers concerning exercise benefits in school age children, conducted by Janssen and Leblanc, found that children aged 15-17 “should accumulate an average of at least 60 minutes per day and up to several hours of at least moderate intensity physical activity”(Janssen and Leblanc, 1). In fact, even a more modest level of activity would be sufficient in battling health risks, such as
Globally, around 31% of adults aged 15 and over were insufficiently active in 2008 (men 28% and women 34%). Approximately 3.2 million deaths each year are attributable to insufficient physical activity (WHO, 2013). Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure (WHO, 2013). Physical inactivity is estimated to be the main cause for approximately 27% of those who have diabetes (WHO, 2013). In order to globally take control over this worldwide epidemic of type 2 diabetes, physical activity needs to become a daily activity in each and everyone’s lives. Physical activity is extremely important as it helps keep blood glucose, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in check. It helps lower the risks of type 2 diabetes (WHO, 2013).
With the recently documented increases in prevalence’s dating as late back as to 1980, pediatric obesity now represents one of the most pressing nutritional problems facing children in the United States today. International population studies report comparable rates of increase, so that if current trends remain unchecked, childhood obesity is likely to challenge worldwide public health. Substantial consequences to physical and mental health, both short and long term, must be anticipated.
America's children are not getting enough exercise, and the health risks due to obesity are becoming epidemic in nature. Even First Lady Michelle Obama is supporting an initiative to help children become more active and to provide for exercise (at least 30-60 minutes per day) in all schools. Even limited amounts of exercise can have great health benefits. When humans exercise, the brain produces chemicals that help enhance mood, limit cravings for sugars, and contribute to healthier joints, muscles, the heart, and kidneys. In turn, this translates into more productive work time, the ability to sleep better, increase memory, and reduce dependence on medications. Children are so vulnerable to this health risk that if it continues, over 60% of graduating seniors will be clinically obese. Written by a medical journalist, the book is designed for the lay reader but has a number of documented scholarly sources.
Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, “Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963” [5]. Unfortunately, this affects our children physically, mentally, and long-term.
Many people suffer from type 2 diabetes, a type of metabolic disease (Curry et al., 2015; Hawley & Gibala, 2012). The prevalence of this disease has been increasing; one reason for this increase could be increased consumption of food as well as decreased prevalence of physical activity (Hawley & Gibala, 2012). Patients with type 2 diabetes are not able to metabolise glucose properly (Curry et al., 2015). Type 2 diabetes can cause patients to be very thirsty, excessively weary, and to experience a broad variety of other symptoms (Tovi & Engfeldt, 1998). It is often treated with insulin in order to help the body metabolise glucose (Tovi & Engfeldt, 1998). However, taking insulin can result in weight gain (Tovi & Engfeldt, 1998). Fat of the abdomen can be an indicator of the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease in an individual with type 2 diabetes, which is heavily correlated with type 2 diabetes (Siren, Eriksson, & Vanhanen, 2012). In terms of lifestyle choices, type 2 diabetes patients are often told to focus on diet, but are also encouraged to increase frequency of physical activity (Alvarez et al., 2016; Hawley & Gibala, 2012). Physical activity has been shown to decrease the amount of deaths resulting from diabetes related causes (Church et al., 2004). Increased physical activity has been shown to help glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes (Curry et al., 2015). People who suffer
Everyone and their brothers know that childhood obesity is on the rise and is not slowing down anytime soon. No, this is not a coincidence, this is an observation, and it is caused by the lack of physical activity among youth. One major reason why childhood
There is no arguing that exercise is effective in preventing weight gain and lowering the risk of obesity for all ages. According to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the current recommended amount of vigorous physical activity for 6-17 year olds to achieve an ideal cardiorespiratory level is recommended to include 20 minutes of activity three times a week (Mo-suwan, L., Pongprapai, S., Junjana, C., & Puetpaiboon, A. 1998). This recommendation tested a study that was conducted to observe the effects of an aerobic exercise program with children. 252 kindergarten students from Thailand were selected where half of the children partook in 15 minutes of walking before class, nap and then 20 minutes of
The following studies are short-term interventions that last for 6 months or below that have looked at the effects that exercise has on body weight and what diet and exercise have on body weight. When these studies have been compared to each other they have found that the combination between diet and exercise have the greatest impact on losing weight. For example, Hagen et al (1986) conducted a study on 48 males and 48 females who were obese and there ages being equal to 36.6 years. The aim of their study was to compare the effects of exercise and caloric restriction for a 12 weeks period. In this procedure they split the males into four groups and the females into four groups. These groups were the same for both males and females. The groups were a Diet and exercise group (DE), Diet group (D), exercise group (E) and the control group (C). Hagen et al (1986) found that there
Obesity has been a major health issue in the community for the past three decades, and has recently become a spreading concern for children (Black & Hager, 2013). Childhood obesity leads to many health and financial burdens in the future, and has become a public health priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016), childhood obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Black and Hager (2013) state that pediatric obesity is a major public health problem that effects a child’s mental and physical health. Having childhood obesity also increases the risk of developing adult obesity and many other chronic illnesses. Childhood obesity will be further explored in the following sections and will include: background, current surveillance methods, epidemiology analysis, screening and diagnosis, and the plan of action.
Human lifestyle has changed from being happy and easy going to acutely nerve-racking. It's its effects on the health and well being of each person all over the world. The diseases of only proven to strike people in their later years are now common through the ages. The rate of high blood pressure and diabetes among children is growing alarmingly. The primary reason for each one of these issues is bad food habits and stressful lifestyle. In this situation the insulin resistance diet comes as a life-saver.
Today, millions of new people become affected by type 2 diabetes every year. Diabetes ranks seventh among the leading causes of death in the United States and is causes more deaths than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Most people don't know how deadly this disease is. Weight loss is a primary goal towards preventing the disease. Therefore, almost every day companies introduce new medicines, pills, and diet plans that promise weight loss. These techniques are not always effective and they can be extremely expensive. However, there is an inexpensive old stand-by called “exercise” that has been proven over and over to reduce and control weight. Exercise is the most offered suggestion by doctors to prevent adult onset diabetes. People have to
Apart from the general health benefits, physical activity also has long term benefits of; stronger muscles, prevention of cardiovascular disease, weight loss, etc. For a diabetic, it also carries specific advantages. These are the prevention of diabetes and assisting in the management of diabetes.