Obese children are 53 times more likely to have insulin resistance, a syndrome that often precedes development of Type II diabetes and can cause other problems as well, according to a study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Researchers studied 688 children (11-14 years) and looked at the following heart disease risk factors that together are considered hallmarks of insulin resistance:

• High insulin levels

• Children with only one of the above risk factors were 2 to 6 times more likely to be obese.

• Children with two risk factors were 8 to 14 times as likely to be obese.

• Children who were obese were 53 times more likely to have insulin resistance (including all three risk factors)

JoAnne Harrell, a professor of nursing at the university who headed the trial, says she is shocked at the results, claiming that the increased risk of insulin resistance among obese children was 7 times the rate she was expecting to find.

"It didn't matter how the children got obese, whether it was through overeating or inactivity. The key correlation was just being obese," Dr. Harrell said.

Considering the fact that insulin resistance is typically present but unknown for about a decade before Type II diabetes is diagnosed, Dr. Harrell predicts that a wave of obese American children could be confronting the dangerous disease. "Overall, less than 1 percent of American children now have diabetes. But that could change if we continue to produce obese children," said Dr. Harrell, who estimated that obesity rates have doubled in the past decade.

Researchers found disturbing dietary traits among the obese children. "Sweets and fats are supposed to be at the peak of the [USDA food] pyramid, only to be used sparingly. But in the children I studied, they were the base of the pyramid, with an average of nine servings a day," Dr. Harrell said.

In addition, she theorized many children were also growing fat because of sedentary activities like watching TV and playing on the compute, as well as a trend towards elimination of physical education classes in school.

Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, November, 2000, New Orleans, Louisiana

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Diabetes is a horrible disease. It is on a MAJOR increase in this country due to watching too much TV and not enough exercise and to many of the wrong foods which thoroughly disrupt insulin levels. In 1990 only 2.1% of those aged 30 to 39 had diabetes. In 1998 that nearly doubled to 3.8%. It may be double now as those statistics are two years old. This is HARD to believe but 4 out of every 100 30-39 year olds in the US are diabetic! This is crazy, as this is an age that most should be at the peak of their health. Yes, there is a HUGE price to pay for not following the healthy eating plan and exercise guidelines. Related Articles: Drug for Diabetic Neuropathy Doesn't Work Insulin Receptors in Brain Tied to Appetite and Weight Gain Exercise Reduces Diabetes by Reducing Insulin Resistance New Type of Drugs to Combat Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Rates Soaring and Occurring at a Younger Age Stress in Middle-Age Increases Diabetes Risk