According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about ten percent of Americans, or 34 million, have diabetes. 90 to 95 percent of them have type 2 diabetes, which means your body isn’t using insulin properly. There are several risk factors for diabetes, some of which are preventable and some of which are not. Researchers are continuously studying diabetes in hopes of learning more about what causes it and how to prevent it. Recently, new evidence identified a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes that could help prevent many people from developing the disease. Read on to find out the risk factor.
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Your childhood BMI could predict diabetes
The research letter published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology found that childhood obesity – a high body mass index (BMI) – can be a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes and early myocardial infarction and ultimately lead to poorer overall health in young adulthood regardless of BMI.
The researchers used BMI-z scores from 12,300 children aged 11 to 18 years with 24 years of follow-up self-reported data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. They found that a higher BMI in adolescence resulted in a 2.6 percent increase in general ill health, an 8.8 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 0.8 percent increased risk of early one Myocardial infarction in adults between 30 and 40 years of age was responsible – regardless of their adults. BMI.
“Understanding that adolescent BMI is a risk factor for poor health outcomes in adulthood, regardless of adult BMI, has a significant impact on our understanding of the onset of cardiovascular disease,” said lead investigator Jason M. Nagata, MD, MSc, in a press release. “With these findings in mind, healthcare providers should consider a history of BMI when assessing cardiovascular and chronic disease risk.”
“Our study suggests that puberty is an important period in optimizing health and preventing early heart attacks,” Nagata continued. “Pediatricians should encourage adolescents to develop healthy behaviors, including physical activity and balanced meals.” And to get through life in the healthiest way, don’t miss it According to doctors, the # 1 cause of diabetes.
