Insulin Resistance and Adipokine Profiles in Obese Adults in Port Harcourt: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity drives the secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines and contributes to insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study analyses insulin resistance indices and adipokine profiles, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin, in obese and non-obese adults in Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed, recruiting 120 obese adults with body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or above and 100 age- and sex-matched non-obese controls. Insulin resistance was quantified using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance. Adipokines were measured using multiplex ELISA platforms. Inflammatory markers including IL-6 and TNF-alpha were simultaneously determined. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess direct and indirect relationships between adiposity, adipokine dysregulation, and insulin resistance. The study also stratifies adipokine profiles by pattern of fat distribution, distinguishing central from peripheral obesity using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Findings will expand the understanding of the adipokine-insulin resistance axis in a Nigerian population and will inform targeted interventions for obese adults at metabolic risk in South South Nigeria. Keywords: insulin resistance, adipokines, leptin, adiponectin, Port Harcourt.