Birth weight and insulin resistance

Contrasting relationship between ponderal index at birth (kg/m³) and BMI (kg/m²) in adulthood on mean insulin resistance. Insulin resistance varies directly with adult BMI and inversely with ponderal index at birth. Thus, the degree of insulin resistance is greatest with lower ponderal index at birth and higher BMI in adulthood (arrow). Insulin resistance is measured as the half-life (t_½) of the fall in blood glucose during an intravenous insulin tolerance test.