Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the adult population of Western societies, 1 but the pathological processes and risk factors associated with its development have been shown to begin during childhood. 2 Obesity plays a central role in the insulin resistance syndrome, which includes hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The incidence of type 2 diabetes reported in children has increased alarmingly. 3, 4

Resistance of the body to the actions of insulin results in increased production of this hormone by the pancreas and ensuing hyperinsulinemia. Obesity beginning in childhood often precedes the hyperinsulinemic state. Other components of the insulin resistance syndrome are also present in children and adolescents. 5, 6 An association between obesity and insulin resistance has been reported in the young, as has the link between insulin resistance, hypertension, and abnormal lipid profile. There is an increasing amount of data showing that being overweight during childhood and adolescence is significantly associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure in young adulthood. Weight loss by obese youngsters results in a decrease in insulin concentration and improvement in insulin sensitivity. Moreover, it has been determined that increased left ventricular mass, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adults, is present in childhood. Recent research has found that left ventricular hypertrophy is related to other risk factors, including obesity and insulin resistance in children and adolescents. 7 The specifics of the transition from risk