ABSTRACT
Adolescent obesity has become a major global health challenge of the 21st century, as it is associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiometabolic risk factors, even at a very early age. Pediatric obesity is a pathological complication with implications on the growth and development of the child as it is associated with precocious puberty and psychosocial conditions that affect the wellness of the child. The objective of this chapter is to describe the potential mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and its associated sequelae in adolescent obesity. In particular, we will describe the pathogenic and clinical peculiarities of obesity in children and how insulin resistance leads to the development of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
