Can Weight Loss in Youth Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

July 7, 2017

New research suggests it’s possible to reverse the metabolic impact of childhood obesity and avert T2DM in adulthood.

Results of a study presented at the 2017 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions show that boys who are overweight but then lose weight by age 18 can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Click through the slides above for a summary of the research and results.Â SourceBjerregaard LG, Jensen BW, Ãngquist L, et al. Are adverse effects of child overweight on risk of type 2 diabetes reversible by remission to normal weight in young adulthood? Presented at American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Sessions, June 9, 2017, San Diego, California.Â Â Â

"The commonest form of malnutrition in the Western world is obesity." --Mervyn Deitel, MD, Canadian physician, pioneer in obesity surgery.

Obese children

may have a 4x higher risk for T2DM, according to current research.

Associations between overweight patterns

were studied, including combinations of weight status in childhood/young adulthood and development of T2DM later in life.

Only 40% of boys

who were overweight as children were also overweight in young adulthood.

Weight loss equalized T2DM risk

but a 3-fold increased risk of T2DM was seen in persistently overweight men and men who became overweight.

Overweight boys whose weight normalizes

between ages 7 - 18 do not carry increased risk of T2DM into adulthood.

Metabolic impact of childhood obesity

may be reversible and so pediatricians, primary care physicians should intervene early. Future study will examine impact in women, on other weight-related morbidity.