Hormonal

In prepubertal children, higher fasting plasma insulin concentrations predict increased rates of body weight gain and fat deposition, suggesting hyperinsulinemia may precede and drive obesity rather than being solely a consequence of it.

For families with a history of obesity or diabetes, monitoring fasting insulin levels in young children may be more predictive of future weight issues than current weight alone. High fasting insulin in lean children might signal a metabolic predisposition to store fat, suggesting early lifestyle interventions focused on insulin sensitivity (e.g., reducing refined carbohydrate intake) could be beneficial before significant weight gain occurs.