Early evidence of diabetes in fat children

Fat children show early changes in adipose tissue and metabolism

28/11/2014

Overweight children show early signs of impairment in their metabolism, which is associated with an increased risk of diabetes in later life years. In thick children, a recent study by the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) on Obesity Diseases revealed pathological changes in adipose tissue as early as age six.

Obesity and obesity are known to be risk factors for many diseases. According to the latest findings, overweight and obese children show their first health consequences at an extremely early age. The studies of the IFB AdiposityDiseases at the Department of Paediatrics at the University Hospital Leipzig prove that in the fat children from the age of six years, changes in adipose tissue are to be found, which are related to an incipient insulin resistance. „This is a sugar metabolism disorder and precursor to type 2 diabetes“, so the message of the University of Leipzig.

Even six-year-olds show changes in adipose tissue
In their study of children and adolescents aged zero to 18 years, the Leipzig researchers examined which changes in adipose tissue can be observed in obesity and obesity. The working group around Prof. Dr. Antje Körner was able to detect significant differences between the slim and overweight girls and boys. „Already in six-year-olds with overweight showed significant changes, which point to an unhealthy development“, reports the University Hospital Leipzig. For example, overweight children and adolescents had nearly twice as many and significantly larger fat cells than slim ones. In addition, with increasing fat mass and size of fat cells in overweight children, macrophages, so-called phagocytes, have migrated into adipose tissue. Their task is the identification and removal of diseased or dead cells in the tissue. The increased occurrence of phagocytes „The researchers see as evidence of an ongoing inflammatory response in adipose tissue of overweight children and teenagers“, so the message of the university clinic.

Altered formation of messenger substances in fat cells
Furthermore, the researchers found in their study that in thick children, the formation of messenger substances from the fat cells is changed. This applies, for example, to the adipose tissue hormones leptin and adiponectin, which influence, among other things, the feeling of hunger and the metabolism. „Altered levels of these hormones in the blood can be observed in overweight already in the young study participants“, report the Leipzig researchers. These are also signals for a pathological change in the metabolism. „The altered dysfunctional adipose tissue contributes to the development of the first sequelae of obesity in childhood“, explains the university hospital in his communication. „These results underline that preventative measures for healthy weight development in children must start very early“, said Professor Antje Körner. For the first changes in adipose tissue and the associated negative effects on the metabolism were detectable from school age. With the current study results, it becomes clear how important the early prevention of obesity is for the child's health. The study was published in the journal „diabetes“ the American Diabetes Association. (Fp)