The New York Times reports today on a study finding that the incidence of diabetes and prediabetes among teenagers has significantly increased in the last ten years, even while rates of teen overweight and obesity have held steady.
While the study’s findings are not conclusive, it indicates that nearly one in four American teens are on the verge of developing the disease or already have it. Given the news I shared with you two weeks ago regarding the difficulty in effectively treating pediatric diabetes, this new finding is particularly troubling.
Interestingly, the study also found that even among teens of normal weight, 37 percent showed at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
A good reminder that poor eating and lifestyle habits are detrimental for all kids, not just those who are visibly overweight.