In the past decade, obesity has reached epidemic magnitude among children
and adolescents, thus associated pathologic conditions are increasing simultaneously.
These conditions include insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome,
cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
NAFLD, previously thought to impact adults only, shares many of the same features of
the metabolic syndrome, a highly atherogenic condition. This drew increased focus to
study the role of NAFLD in relation to higher overall mortality and morbidity rates and
increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Insulin resistance is the pathophysiologic hallmark of NAFLD, the most common form
of chronic liver disease in children in today’s time. It is characterized by triglyceride
accumulation with secondary free-radical production, which induces inflammatory
processes and fibrosis due to numerous causes and complex mechanism.
Recent studies indicate that NAFLD has high prevalence in obese children, which has
serious cosequences without treatment. Early intervention is utmost important when
NAFLD is diagnosed, which should include early lifestyle modification (nutrition and
physical activity, avoidance of smoking), however, no evidence based therapeutic
approaches exist.
Keywords: Cardiovascular risk, Children, Insulin resistance, Nonalcoholic fatty
liver disease, Obesity.
