Childhood obesity ‘leading to rise in prevalence of type 2 diabetes’

A growing number of children in the UK are developing type 2 diabetes as a result of the current obesity crisis.

This is according to new analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA), which examined 2015-16 data from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and found that 621 young people under the age of 25 were receiving care for type 2 diabetes in England and Wales.

Of these children, 15 were aged between five and nine, while 78.5 percent were also obese. The overall total was an increase of 76 compared to the figure recorded in 2014-15.

This is a cause for serious concern, as this form of diabetes is normally only seen in adults aged over 40, and is most commonly attributable to lifestyle factors, such as excess weight.

Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA's community wellbeing board, said: "Obesity is usually linked with major health conditions later on in life, but already we are seeing the devastating consequences at an early age."

The LGA therefore called on the government to reverse cuts to councils' public health budgets, as this is hindering efforts to tackle obesity in young people.

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