|
Obese
Kids Already Showing Signs of Diabetes
 Auburn,
March 21, 2002---A new Yale University study
reveals that one in four obese children in the United
States has early signs of type II diabetes -- a type
seen only in adults until recently. In fact, almost
half of the children and adolescents now diagnosed
with diabetes have the type II form of the disease,
which is strongly linked to obesity and lack of
exercise.
Previous research
released late last year confirmed that childhood
obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United
States. Almost 20 percent of black, white and Hispanic
children are obese today.
Yale researchers looked
at 167 kids and teens with a body mass index or BMI
greater than 95 percentile for their age. The kids
were tested for evidence of impaired glucose
tolerance. Impaired glucose tolerance means that the
body is not able to use sugar properly and the sugar
levels in the blood go higher than normal after
eating, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
Of the kids tested ages
4 to 10, 25 percent had impaired tolerance. Of those
ages 11 to 18, 21 percent had impaired glucose
tolerance. Four percent of the obese adolescents
already had type II diabetes of which the children nor
their parents were aware. In adults, one in 10 with
impaired glucose tolerance usually develops diabetes.
These study results are
alarming because diabetes can increase risks of other
health problems such as heart disease, kidney
problems, blindness and circulation problems. It's
important for obese young people to have their sugar
levels tested regularly.
Intensive efforts to
reduce obesity in children and youth who have impaired
glucose tolerance, will help prevent their developing
type II diabetes.
Source: Dr. Barbara
Struempler, Nutritionist, Alabama Cooperative
Extension System (334) 844-2217 |
