Diabetes risk found in kids as young as 7

NEW ORLEANS, June 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have documented early signs of type 2 diabetes -- the adult version of the disease -- risk in children as young as age 7.

Melinda Sothern of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans documented previously unknown markers for obesity, heart disease and diabetes -- collectively called Metabolic Syndrome -- in very young children.

Metaboilic Syndrome involves risk factors for diabetes such as high blood pressure, obesity and decreased high-density lipoprotein, known as the "good" cholesterol.

Data was collected on 118 healthy children, ages 7-9, enrolled in an ongoing study.

The study found a child's current fat weight is the strongest predictor for poor insulin sensitivity, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" cholesterol, was also strongly associated with insulin sensitivity in the prediction model.

The study found that fat in liver cells and in skeletal -- leg -- muscle cells also predict poor insulin sensitivity and high insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, along with an impaired fat-burning ability in the muscles.

These relationships were only found after the researchers considered the child's current fat weight, so the strongest predictor is whether or not these young children are currently overweight or obese.

The finding was presented at the American Diabetes Association annual scientific session meeting in New Orleans.