Mitochondrial Function and Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Normal-Weight Children

Background: Obesity has become an epidemic in children, associated with an increase in insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Mitochondrial function is known to be an important determinant of glucose metabolism in adults. However, little is known about the relationship between mitochondrial function and obesity, insulin resistance, energy expenditure, and pubertal development in children. Methods: Seventy-four participants, 37 overweight (=3D85th percentile body mass index for age and sex) and 37 normal-weight (