A significant percentage of obese children and adolescents have a condition, called impaired glucose tolerance, that commonly leads to diabetes.

This is according to a study conducted by the Yale University School of Medicine which was published in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

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A clear link between obesity and type 2 diabetes has been established. Obesity and diabetes both run in families and up to 90% of type 2 diabetics are obese. Rates of childhood type 2 diabetes are also on the rise as a result of an increase in obesity amongst children.

The Yale researchers investigated whether obese youth have impaired glucose tolerance - a major risk factor for diabetes in adults.

The researchers tested 55 obese children (4-10 years old) and 112 obese adolescents (11-18 years old) for any abnormalities in their glucose tolerance. They found that impaired glucose tolerance was widespread among obese youth - 25% of the children and 21% of the adolescents had impaired glucose tolerance.

The researchers urged additional prevention efforts in this high-risk group. – (Health24)
 

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