The Health Influences of Puberty (HIP) Study
The Health Influences of Puberty (HIP) Study
The Health Influences of Puberty (HIP) Study is designed to explore the relationships between
 puberty and the onset of type 2 diabetes in adolescents. The results of this study will help
 us better understand how to prevent type 2 diabetes in these youth. Children go through many
 changes during puberty, including important hormonal and behavioral alterations. Among these
 changes, it has long been known that, during puberty, insulin does not work as well as it
 does before and after puberty. This is called physiologic insulin resistance. In healthy
 children, this does not cause diabetes or affect blood sugar in any way because the body is
 able to compensate by making more insulin. Indeed, this is thought to be an important part of
 the adolescent growth spurt. However, in some children with increased risk for developing
 type 2 diabetes due to obesity and genetics, the worsening insulin resistance of puberty
 cannot be compensated for and these youth get diabetes early. The investigators believe this
 is because type 2 diabetes is rarely, if ever, seen before puberty begins, and the peak of
 diabetes onset in adolescents occurs at the time of the worst insulin resistance. This
 specific research project has two goals: 1. To examine effects of obesity on how well the
 body's insulin works during puberty, and 2. To see if treatment of obese children during this
 critical period of puberty with a medication that improves insulin resistance (metformin)
 will help prevent early onset type 2 diabetes.
Specific Aims:

 Pediatric insulin resistance and related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),
 are increasing in prevalence, and portend significant end-organ and cardiovascular morbidity
 and mortality. Thus, measures aimed at understanding its causes and preventing its onset are
 critical. The physiologic decrease in insulin sensitivity in all adolescents during puberty
 is well-established. It is also known that obese adolescents start out less insulin sensitive
 at the onset of puberty than lean adolescents, and that their insulin sensitivity worsens as
 puberty progresses. While there are both longitudinal and cross-sectional data confirming the
 natural recovery of pre-pubertal insulin sensitivity in normal weight adolescents after
 puberty is completed, it is unknown whether obese adolescents recover their pre-pubertal
 insulin sensitivity. Failure to regain pre-pubertal insulin sensitivity at the end of
 puberty, and failure of compensatory insulin secretion, may accelerate progression from
 obesity to insulin resistance to T2DM in at-risk youth and contribute to long-term
 cardiovascular risk.

 In addition, obesity and insulin resistance are associated with earlier onset of puberty and
 premature adrenarche in females. Insulin resistance also contributes to the gonadal
 dysfunction of polycystic ovarian disease in fully pubertal females and is associated with
 hypogonadism in older adult males. Little is known about effects of obesity and insulin
 resistance on gonadal function in young males. However, persistent metabolic changes at the
 end of puberty may contribute to gonadal dysfunction in obese youth. Currently, there are few
 longitudinal studies in either sex that evaluate the interactions among obesity, insulin
 resistance and gonadal function during puberty.

 The investigators' long-term goal is to better understand the metabolic changes that occur
 during puberty, their underlying mechanisms, and their potential contribution to adult
 disease. The overall aim is to evaluate the effects of obesity on the evolution of insulin
 sensitivity and gonadal function during puberty. In addition, because improvement in insulin
 action during puberty may slow β-cell deterioration, the investigators will evaluate whether
 compensatory insulin secretion is also affected in obese adolescents and whether treatment
 with metformin improves β-cell response.

 HYPOTHESES:

 1. Obese adolescents will show decreased improvement in insulin sensitivity from Tanner
 stage 2/3 to Tanner 5 when compared with lean counterparts.

 2. Obese adolescents treated with metformin will have greater improvement in insulin
 sensitivity from Tanner stage 2/3 to Tanner 5 vs. those treated with placebo. (See
 hypothesis schematics below)

 To test these hypotheses, we propose to address the following Specific Aims:

 SPECIFIC AIM 1 (Observational Arm):

 1. To compare longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion and their
 correlates in obese and normal weight adolescents during puberty.

 1. Primary outcome: Change in insulin sensitivity (Si), as measured by frequently
 sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), from early puberty to puberty
 completion in obese and normal weight adolescents.

 2. Secondary outcomes: Change in insulin secretion (AIR) and disposition index (DI) as
 measured by IVGTT, body composition, fat distribution, markers of gonadal function,
 and inflammatory markers over time in these groups.

 SPECIFIC AIM 2 (Treatment Arm):

 2. To compare longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion and their
 correlates in obese adolescents treated with metformin or placebo during puberty.

 1. Primary outcome: Change in Si from early puberty to puberty completion in obese
 controls and obese adolescents treated with metformin.

 2. Secondary outcome: Change in AIR and DI, body composition, fat distribution,
 markers of gonadal function, and inflammatory markers over time in these groups.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  BMI ≥ 95th percentile

 -  At least Tanner 2, but no more than Tanner 3

 -  Age ≥ 9 years

 -  Absence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or Type 2
 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Presence of T2DM, IGT or IFG

 -  Any disorder or medication known to effect glucose tolerance;

 -  Hypertension or hyperlipidemia requiring pharmacological intervention;

 -  Weight >300lbs. due to limits of imaging tables.

 -  Chronic illness