Changes in whole-body fat distribution, intrahepatic lipids, and insulin resistance of obese adolescents during a low-level lifestyle intervention.

<bold>Unlabelled: </bold>The aim of this study was to analyze changes in adipose tissue (AT) distribution, intrahepatic lipids (IHL), and insulin resistance (IR) among a group of obese adolescents undergoing a 7-months low-level lifestyle intervention. Thirty-nine obese Caucasian adolescents (mean age 13.9 years, body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDSLMS) 2.14) were included. AT and IHL were determined by T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy; IR was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). The lifestyle intervention led to a reduction of both BMI-SDSLMS (boys 2.27 to 2.17; girls 2.00 to 1.82) and HOMA-IR (boys 6.1 to 4.4 (p = 0.008); girls 6.2 to 4.7 (p = 0.030)). IHL dropped in both genders (boys 7.5 to 4.3 %; girls 4.6 to 3.4 %) positively correlating with HOMA-IR (boys r = 0.52; girls r = 0.68), while in contrast visceral AT did not change significantly.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Although the lifestyle intervention only slightly reduced BMI-SDSLMS, insulin sensitivity improved in both genders and came along with a marked reduction of IHL. This suggests that IHL might play the dominant role regarding insulin resistance in the youth, especially if compared to other AT compartments such as visceral AT.<bold>What Is Known: </bold>• MR imaging/spectroscopy can be used to evaluate body fat distribution and intrahepatic lipids in the youth. • The strength of associations between body fat compartments and insulin resistance is under scientific debate.<bold>What Is New: </bold>• The study emphasizes that even a low-level lifestyle intervention has a beneficial effect. • The study suggests that intrahepatic lipids are an important factor in the development of insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]