Researchers have found that obese teenagers are far more likely to die of heart disease and other illnesses than teens that are at a healthy weight. The study followed more than 200,000 Norwegians from adolescence through middle age.

"Study participants who were obese as teenagers... tended to remain obese into adulthood. Obesity later in life has long been implicated as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers...whereas the long-term effects of childhood obesity are uncertain."

The study found long-term health risks not only for heart disease, but also colon cancer and respiratory diseases. Source: National Institutes of Health

Labels: heart_disease, obesity_rates

After 25 years of steady increases, 2005-2006 saw the first leveling off of obesity rates among U.S. children. The rate is still high, at 32 percent, but remained the same as 2003-2004.

"Some experts said that if the leveling-off is real, it could be because more schools and parents are emphasizing better eating habits and more exercise."

Experts also warn that it's too early to celebrate. The next few years will be good indicators as to whether the leveling off is genuine or was simply an anomaly. Source: The Associated Press

Labels: encouragment, obesity_rates, statistics

Children and teens that are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are five times more likely to develop kidney disease than people who develop diabetes as adults. The risk of kidney disease is equated, not with age, but with how long someone has had Type 2 diabetes.

"Citing an example [Robert Nelson] explained, 'A 15-year-old person with 10 years of type 2 diabetes has the same risk of kidney disease as a 55-year-old with 10 years of type 2 diabetes.'"

Diabetes is becoming increasingly common among young people as obesity rates rise. While kidney disease can be prevent through proper management of diabetes, Mr. Nelson also emphasized the importance of reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity.

Labels: diabetes, kidney_disease, obesity_rates

Though obesity rates for kids haven't been released yet, the rates for adults show promise. Based on surveys and physical examinations of about 4,400 adults, it appears that obesity rates are beginning to plateau. That's good news considering the fact that rates have steadily increased since the 1908s.

"In generalizing the results to the U.S. population, researchers calculated a margin of error that swallows up the differences between years. In other words, the increases were not considered statistically significant."

The new report compared four years' worth of data.

Read more at LATimes.com.

Labels: health_care, healthy_living, obesity_rates