Among Finnish children with obesity, the prevalence of prediabetes has doubled over two decades

Among Finnish children with obesity, the prevalence of prediabetes has doubled over two decades

The prevalence of prediabetes has increased significantly in recent years among overweight or obese Finnish children, a recent study from the University of Tampere and the University of Eastern Finland shows. In the early 2000s, 11 percent of the people studied had prediabetes, while 20 years later the prevalence of prediabetes was 50 percent. The prevalence of obesity remained unchanged during the study period, but prediabetes was more common in children, which may be partly due to a concomitant increase in maternal obesity.

The study included 602 children aged 6 to 16 years who were screened for overweight or obesity in primary health care or specialized health care in Tampere between 2002 and 2020. The study also included a control group of 483 children aged 7 to 16 years, drawn from the PANIC (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children) study currently underway at the University of Eastern Finland.

According to the study, 34 percent of children diagnosed as overweight or obese had prediabetes and one percent had type 2 diabetes. In the control group, 7 percent had prediabetes, while type 2 diabetes was not observed. Prediabetes was more common in older children and in more advanced stages of puberty. Its prevalence has also been linked to fatty liver disease and acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition often associated with obesity and disorders in glucose metabolism.

Of note, the prevalence of prediabetes increased significantly during the study period. Between 2002 and 2004, 11 percent of patients were diagnosed with prediabetes, while between 2017 and 2019 the prevalence was 50 percent. No significant changes occurred in other factors such as prevalence or degree of obesity, body mass index or other metabolic disorders.

Fetal periods may play a role

The only other significant change found during the study period was a significant increase in maternal obesity from 20 percent to 69 percent.

The increase in the prevalence of prediabetes without changes in children's weight may be partly explained by factors related to pregnancy and the fetal period. Changes in children's body composition, physical activity or diet could also play a role. Further research into these factors is needed.”

Hanna Riekki, MD, researcher, University of Tampere

Professor Kalle Kurppa and Linnea Aitokari, MD, PhD, from the University of Tampere, together with Professor Timo Lakka, director of the PANIC study at the University of Eastern Finland, consider the related findings. “The results show that even if the prevalence or degree of obesity does not change, obesity-related comorbidities may still occur more frequently.”

Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and many other cardiovascular diseases such as fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. A metabolic disorder that begins in childhood may progress more quickly and cause more complications than a disorder that begins in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to actively screen for obesity-related comorbidities such as disorders of glucose metabolism in children with increased obesity so that early interventions can be initiated.

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