Obesity results in a 50% increase in the number of people under 25 treated for type 2 diabetes in the last five years

The numbers show that the number of youth treated for type 2 diabetes has almost doubled in five years due to the obesity epidemic.

Last year, some 745 patients were treated in specialized clinics for pediatric diabetics, an increase of 47% from 507 in 2013/14.

Among the under-25s who received treatment, 85% were obese and nearly half had high blood pressure.

The actual number of youth treated for type 2 will likely be much higher, since many are only treated in the services of a generalist, said the Local Government Association (LGA), which badyzed the numbers. [File photo]

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 is largely preventable and is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. It usually affects adults over 40 and has never been seen in British children until 20 years ago.

However, the raging obesity crisis in Britain means that an increasing number of young people are at risk and are treated in specialized clinics for under-25s.

One in five children is obese by the age of six, at the age of 11, and almost one in four children by the time they enter school.

The numbers show that the number of youth treated for type 2 diabetes has almost doubled in five years due to the obesity epidemic. Last year, some 745 patients were treated in specialized clinics for pediatric diabetics, an increase of 47% from 507 in 2013/14. [File photo]

Type 2 diabetes is much more aggressive in young people than in adults and can lead to heart disease, kidney damage and blindness.

Experts are concerned that many younger patients will succumb to it at adolescence or at age 20 as the overall risk of complications is higher.

New data, published by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), showed that more girls than boys had received treatment for type 2 diabetes last year.

Almost half of the young people had high blood pressure and 34% exceeded the higher target of blood cholesterol.

The actual number of youth treated for type 2 will likely be much higher, since many are only treated in the services of a generalist, said the Local Government Association (LGA), which badyzed the numbers.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 is largely preventable and is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. It usually affects adults over 40 and has never been seen in British children until 20 years ago. [File photo]

Professor Russell Viner, President of RCPCH, said: "Type 2 diabetes is a serious health problem badociated with obesity and, unmanaged, can lead to kidney failure, eye problems, stroke, cardiopathies and amputations. The fact that there has been a 47% increase in the number of children who develop this disease is therefore a major concern. "

The LGA said more needs to be done to reach out to certain social and ethnic minority groups and called on the government to cancel the £ 700 million cuts in public health funding.

Ian Hudspeth, Chair of its Community Wellness Council, said, "Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health issues we face and these numbers are another impeachment. sad for our failure as a society.

"The government's plan on childhood obesity set forth the bold ambition to halve the number of obese children by 2030, but we need urgent action." now."