Prevalence of prediabetes, diabetes among adolescents on the rise

NEW YORK — Being overweight and obesity during adolescence are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially prediabetes and diabetes, according to researchers.

Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers found that among adolescents ages 12 too 19 years, the prevalence of prediabetes/diabetes increased from 9% in the 1999-2000 NHANES to 23% during the 2007-2008 NHANES. While prediabetes/diabetes experienced an increase, the researchers also noted that other CVD risk factors — such as prehypertension/hypertension (17% and 13%) and borderline-high/high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (23% and 19%) — saw no significant change when observed in the 1999-2000 NHANES and 2007-2008 NHANES.

The results were published in Pediatrics.

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