Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that affects both the pediatric and adult populations. Adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ which secretes various adipokines involved in fat mass regulation and energy balance via modulating the metabolic signalling pathways. Altered secretion of adipokines promotes multiple complications, including insulin resistance. The primary mechanism of action that underlines the involvement of adipokines in the development of insulin resistance includes phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) facilitate by other signalling molecules like a suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS-1). Adipokines mediated insulin resistance further contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, fatty liver disease, cancer etc. Thus, this review provides recent updates on the role of resistin, lipocalin-2, RBP-4, chemerin, TNF-alpha and IL-6 adipokines in the progression of insulin resistance.