Hyperglucagonemia in Pediatric Adiposity Associates With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors but Not Hyperglycemia

In adults, hyperglucagonemia is associated with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and obesity. The role of glucagon in pediatric overweight/obesity remains unclear. We examined whether fasting concentrations of glucagon are elevated in youth with overweight/obesity and whether this associates with cardiometabolic risk profiles. Analyses were based on the cross-sectional HOLBAEK study, including children and adolescents 6 to 19 years of age, with overweight/obesity from an obesity clinic group (n = 2154) and with normal weight from a population-based group (n = 1858). Fasting concentrations of plasma glucagon and cardiometabolic risk outcomes were assessed, and multiple linear and logistic regressions models were performed. The obesity clinic group had higher glucagon concentrations than the population-based group (P