Pancreatic dysfunction in severe obesity.

AIMS: To investigate pancreatic function in children attending an obesity clinic.

METHODS

Thirty six children (of which 34 were white) with severe obesity of prepubertal onset (body mass index more than +2 SDS) were reviewed clinically and dysmorphologically, with assessment of pancreatic function.

RESULTS

Eight had dysmorphic features and 13 had learning difficulties. Four of 17 prepubertal children had hyperinsulinaemia and seven had hyperproinsulinaemia. All 19 pubertal children had hyperinsulinaemia, 14 had hyperproinsulinaemia, and one had type II diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic abnormalities predictive of type II diabetes occur in severely obese white children.