The connection between type 2 diabetes and obesity is well documented, but an international study now suggests that children with type 1 can also be too heavy. Researchers compared data on more than 3,900 children with type 1 or 2 diabetes to more than 7,600 of their peers without the disease and found that, as expected, most of the type 2 kids were obese. Surprisingly, though, a significant number of the type 1 kids were overweight. More study will be needed to see if weight affects how soon type 1 diabetes develops.

Children and Weight

* Overweight was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th to 95th percentile.
** Obese was defined as having a BMI greater than the 95th percentile.

Source: Pediatric Diabetes, published online May 2009