Childhood BMI Trajectory Leads to Adulthood Diabetes Risk
Recent research has shown that as a child’s waistline expands, so does their chances of developing diabetes in later life. Diabetes, specifically type two diabetes, is an epidemic in the United States in which people are unable to use insulin, a hormone that regulates digestion, to break down glucose in the blood. As a result, they suffer from numerous health issues, from light-headedness to nerve damage. It has been long understood that the amount of fat a person has is a major risk factor for type two diabetes, as cells in fatty environments become more resistant to insulin. However, recent research has shown evidence of a link to a person’s medical history and their childhood. In a study performed by Tao Zhang of Shandong University, Jie Xu of the Capital Medical University, and their associates, the rate of childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) increase was positively correlated with the development of diabetes later on in life.
In the study, Zhang and others looked at data from the Bogalusa Heart Study, and discovered that not only did higher childhood BMIs correspond to increased risk of developing type two diabetes, but also a higher rate of increase of childhood BMIs does as well. This means that rapid weight gain in a person’s youth, previously not a main focus for diabetes risk assessment, is now shown to be something that a doctor might now consider when consulting with a patient.
In the study, Zhang and others looked at data from the Bogalusa Heart Study, and discovered that not only did higher childhood BMIs correspond to increased risk of developing type two diabetes, but also a higher rate of increase of childhood BMIs does as well. This means that rapid weight gain in a person’s youth, previously not a main focus for diabetes risk assessment, is now shown to be something that a doctor might now consider when consulting with a patient.
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The results of the study, while illuminating, bring forth many more questions that have the potential to stimulate more research into the topics of obesity and diabetes. For example, the research data was analyzed with with the exclusion of other factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, given the prevalence of drinking and smoking, or the use of e-cigarettes, and the effects that they may have on metabolism and weight gain, those topics are interesting and relevant to look into further.
Type two diabetes is fast-growing in the United States, and millions of new cases are diagnosed every year. While proper diet, exercise, and medication can help patients manage the disease, the fact remains that there are many interventions that people can do that would decrease their risk of getting it. The research conducted by Zhang and associates has contributed new information towards understanding the risk factors that lead to the disease. Aside from well-known determent techniques such as exercising or losing weight, patients, especially younger people, can take more effective preemptive steps to lower their risk of developing the disease. If weight increase is managed during childhood, then patients have lower risks of developing diabetes in the future.
Type two diabetes is fast-growing in the United States, and millions of new cases are diagnosed every year. While proper diet, exercise, and medication can help patients manage the disease, the fact remains that there are many interventions that people can do that would decrease their risk of getting it. The research conducted by Zhang and associates has contributed new information towards understanding the risk factors that lead to the disease. Aside from well-known determent techniques such as exercising or losing weight, patients, especially younger people, can take more effective preemptive steps to lower their risk of developing the disease. If weight increase is managed during childhood, then patients have lower risks of developing diabetes in the future.
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