Bjerregaard LG, et al. - Experts ascertained if remission of overweight before early adulthood reduced this risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood in Danish men whose weights and heights had been measured at 7 and 13 years of age and in early adulthood (17 to 26 years of age). Data shed light on the connection between childhood overweight at 7 years of age with a greater risk of adult type 2 diabetes only if it continued until puberty or later ages. It was determined that the associations were stronger at older ages at overweight and at younger ages at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Methods

• A total of 62,565 Danish men were enrolles, in whom the weights and heights were estimated at 7 and 13 years of age and in early adulthood (17 to 26 years of age).
• During this study, overweight was defined in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.
• Using a national health registry, data was extracted with regard to the type 2 diabetes status (at age ≥30 years, 6,710 persons).

Results

• A positive correlation was demonstrated between overweight at 7 years of age (3373 of 62,565 men; 5.4%), 13 years of age (3418 of 62,565; 5.5%), or early adulthood (5108 of 62,565; 8.2%) with the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Such connections appeared to be stronger at older ages at overweight and at younger ages at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
• Findings revealed that men with remission of overweight before the age of 13 years presented with a risk of having type 2 diabetes diagnosed at 30 to 60 years of age, found to be similar to that among men who had never been overweight (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.21).
• In contrast with men who had never been overweight, individuals who had been overweight at 7 and 13 years of age but not during early adulthood, displayed a greater risk of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.98).
• Nevertheless, lower risk was reported in such subjects than that among men with persistent overweight (hazard ratio [persistently overweight vs never overweight], 4.14; 95% CI, 3.57 to 4.79).
• A rise in body-mass index between 7 years of age and early adulthood exhibited a link with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, even among men whose weight had been normal at 7 years of age.