A new Karolinska Institutet study finds that children with moderate obesity face higher risks of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and lipid disorders in adulthood, even without apparent risk markers. Researchers urge treatment for all such children.
A Karolinska Institutet study, published in Jama Pediatrics, tracked 7,200 children from the Boris quality registry to age 30. Groups included obesity with risk markers like abnormal blood and liver values or high blood pressure, obesity without markers, and a population control. At age 30, 17 percent in the first group developed type 2 diabetes, versus 9 percent without markers and 0.5 percent in controls. Similar patterns appeared for high blood pressure and elevated lipids. Claude Marcus, professor at Karolinska Institutet, stated: “Our results suggest that all children with obesity need treatment, even if they appear completely healthy on examination.” Previous views held that children with normal values likely did not require treatment. In a Dagens Nyheter debate article, three pediatric researchers note that nearly one in ten children with moderate obesity without metabolic impact develop type 2 diabetes before age 30. They criticize uneven regional care and TLV's lack of drug subsidies, despite national guidelines. Early weight loss reduced risk by 80 percent for those who succeeded.
