Charity warns of increase in children developing diabetes linked to obesity

Diabetes UK is warning that doctors are seeing a “very concerning climb” in the number of children developing type-2 diabetes.

 

The charity says high obesity levels could be to blame and poor diets linked to the cost-of-living crisis could be making a bad situation even worse.

 

Data suggests the impact is being disproportionately seen in deprived areas of England and Wales, with four in ten young people with the condition being from disadvantaged regions, comparing with one out of every 19 in the most affluent.

 

Over one in ten children are already obese by the time they start school.

 

Being obese or overweight significantly increases the risk of type-2 diabetes, with other risk factors including ethnicity and family history.

 

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said “With soaring numbers of children now living with obesity and numbers diagnosed with type-2 diabetes on a very concerning climb, we are facing a perfect storm which risks irreversible harm to the health of young people.

 

“We are very concerned that this spike in childhood obesity will translate into an even greater increase in children with type-2 diabetes in the coming years, a crisis fuelled by long-standing health inequalities and made worse still by impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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