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Editorial
. 2024 May 15;15(5):797-809.
doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i5.797.

Rising tide: The global surge of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents demands action now

Joseph M Pappachan  1   2   3 , Cornelius James Fernandez  4 , Ambika P Ashraf  5
Affiliations
Editorial

Rising tide: The global surge of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents demands action now

Joseph M Pappachan et al. World J Diabetes. .

Abstract

Childhood-onset obesity has emerged as a major public healthcare challenge across the globe, fueled by an obesogenic environment and influenced by both genetic and epigenetic predispositions. This has led to an exponential rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents. The looming wave of diabetes-related complications in early adulthood is anticipated to strain the healthcare budgets in most countries. Unless there is a collective global effort to curb the devastation caused by the situation, the impact is poised to be pro-found. A multifaceted research effort, governmental legislation, and effective social action are crucial in attaining this goal. This article delves into the current epidemiological landscape, explores evidence concerning potential risks and consequences, delves into the pathobiology of childhood obesity, and discusses the latest evidence-based management strategies for diabesity.

Keywords: Adolescence; Cardiovascular disease; Childhood obesity; Diabesity; Pharmacotherapy; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diabesity predisposing environment. DM: Diabetes mellitus; IUGR: Intrauterine growth retardation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Determinants of progression to type 2 diabetes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Complications and comorbidities associated with diabesity in children and young adults. HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MAFLD: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea; PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome; sd-LDL-C: Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; T2DM: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; TG: Triglyceride.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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