Purpose We aimed to investigate the prevalences of obesity, abdominal obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Materials and Methods This population-based study investigated the prevalences of obesity, abdominal obesity, and NAFLD among 1428 children and adolescents between 2018–2019 and 2020. We assessed the prevalences of obesity, abdominal obesity, and NAFLD according to body mass index, age, sex, and residential district. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships among obesity, abdominal obesity, and NAFLD. Results In the obese group, the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased from 75.55% to 92.68%, and that of NAFLD increased from 40.68% to 57.82%. In age-specific analysis, the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased from 8.25% to 14.11% among participants aged 10–12 years and from 11.70% to 19.88% among children aged 13–15 years. In residential district-specific analysis, the prevalence of both abdominal obesity and NAFLD increased from 6.96% to 15.74% in rural areas. In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of abdominal obesity for NAFLD was 11.82. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that the prevalences of abdominal obesity and NAFLD increased among obese Korean children and adolescents and in rural areas during the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased among young children. These findings suggest the importance of closely monitoring abdominal obesity and NAFLD among children during COVID-19, focusing particularly on obese young children and individuals in rural areas.

Background/Objectives: Changes in the percentile value of the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value in adolescents in Korea are yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the age- and sex-specific trends in insulin resistance (IR) according to the HOMA-IR in Korean adolescents, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV, VI, and VIII conducted between 2007–2010 and 2019–2020. Subjects/Methods: Overall, 4621 adolescents (2484 boys and 2137 girls) aged 10–18 years were evaluated. Among them, 3473 subjects (1855 boys and 1618 girls) were from the 2007–2010 dataset, and 1148 subjects (629 boys and 519 girls) were from the 2019–2020 dataset. The subjects were grouped according to body mass index (BMI) and evaluated according to age and sex. Percentile curves of HOMA-IR were calculated as a function of age and stratified by sex and BMI group. Results: In the normal weight group, HOMA-IR values peaked at age 12–14 years in boys and at age 10–12 years in girls. In the overweight/obese group, HOMA-IR values did not show a specific pattern according to age. In the normal-weight group, there was no difference in the mean HOMA-IR values between 2007–2010 and 2019–2020, but the distribution range was wider in 2019–2020 than in 2007–2010. Meanwhile, in the overweight/obese group, HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in 2019–2020 than in 2007–2010. Conclusions: Percentiles of HOMA-IR vary significantly according to age, sex, and BMI among Korean adolescents. Therefore, because the value of HOMA-IR in adolescents is affected by several factors, including age, sex, weight status, and race, these factors should be considered when clinically utilizing HOMA-IR. In addition, active intervention for IR, especially during the growth spurt period, is needed.

Background: Patients with 5-α-reductase type 2 deficiency (5αRD2) require androgen treatment for the growth of normal male external genitalia. Since limited research has been conducted on the effects of androgen treatment on height in individuals with 5αRD2, we investigated the effect of androgen treatment on bone age (BA) and the height status in children with 5αRD2. Methods: Of the 19 participants who were followed up for an average of 10.6 years, 12 received androgen treatment. BA and height standard deviation scores (SDS) were compared between the treatment and non-treatment groups, as well as between the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone enanthate (TE) treatment groups. Results: Despite the above-average height of the 19 patients with 5αRD2, the height SDS relative to BA (htSDS-BA) was below average, particularly in the androgen treatment group. DHT treatment did not lead to an increase in BA or htSDS-BA, whereas TE treatment resulted in BA advancement and decreased htSDS-BA, especially in the prepubertal period. Conclusions: DHT treatment is more favorable for height than TE treatment in patients with 5αRD2, particularly during the prepubertal period. Therefore, age and the type of androgen used should be carefully considered to minimize the risk of height reduction in these patient groups.

Background/Objectives An increase in obesity prevalence may lead to an increase in the HOMA-IR value. This study aimed to investigate changes in age- and sex-specific homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values among South Korean adolescents, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV, V, and VIII conducted between 2007–2010 and 2019–2020. Subjects/Methods Overall, 4621 adolescents aged 10–18 years were evaluated, including 3473 from the 2007–2010 dataset and 1148 from the 2019–2020 dataset. The mean HOMA-IR values and percentile curves were evaluated by age, sex, and weight status. Results The mean HOMA-IR values peaked at puberty in both sexes and further increased during puberty in the 2019–2020 dataset (boys 5.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.16–6.26; girls 5.21, 95% CI 3.09–7.33) compared with the 2007–2010 dataset (boys 3.25, 95% CI 3.04–3.47; girls 3.58, 95% CI 3.31–3.85). Both groups (with normal-weight and overweight/obesity) exhibited a peak HOMA-IR value during puberty in both sexes and both datasets, although the group with overweight/obesity had a higher and wider peak age range. While the mean HOMA-IR values did not change in adolescents with normal-weight, they increased during puberty and post-puberty in boys with overweight/obesity. Conclusions HOMA-IR values should be interpreted considering sex, weight status, and pubertal stages. In particular, during the pubertal period, insulin resistance (IR) can coexist not only due to weight-related factors but also as a result of the distinct hormonal changes characteristic of puberty. Over the 10-year period, the mean HOMA-IR values increased in the group with overweight/obesity during puberty and post-puberty, highlighting the need for active intervention to prevent metabolic complications in adolescents with overweight/obesity.