The prevalence of prediabetes among Finnish children with overweight or obesity has risen sharply over the past two decades, according to a new study conducted by Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland. Researchers found that while 11 percent of children in this group had prediabetes in the early 2000s, the figure increased to 50 percent twenty years later.
The study analyzed data from 602 children aged 6-16 who were assessed for overweight or obesity at primary or specialized health care facilities in Tampere between 2002 and 2020. A control group consisting of 483 children aged 7-16 was drawn from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study at the University of Eastern Finland.
Among those assessed for overweight or obesity, researchers reported that 34 percent had prediabetes and one percent had type 2 diabetes. In contrast, only seven percent of children in the control group had prediabetes, and none were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The occurrence of prediabetes was higher among older children and those further along in puberty. The condition was also linked to fatty liver disease and acanthosis nigricans, a skin disorder often associated with excess weight and abnormal glucose metabolism.
Despite these changes, the overall prevalence and degree of obesity remained stable throughout the study period. No significant shifts were observed in body mass index or other metabolic disorders.
Researchers noted a notable increase in maternal overweight during this time frame—from 20 percent to 69 percent—which may have contributed to rising rates of prediabetes among children.
Professor Kalle Kurppa and Linnea Aitokari from Tampere University, together with Professor Timo Lakka from the University of Eastern Finland, described these findings as concerning. "The results show that even if the prevalence or degree of obesity does not change, obesity-related comorbidities may still become more common."
Prediabetes is known to raise the risk for developing type 2 diabetes as well as other cardiometabolic conditions such as fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. Experts warn that metabolic disorders beginning in childhood can progress faster than those starting later in life, leading to more complications. They emphasize that it is important to actively screen for related conditions like disturbances in glucose metabolism among children with increased adiposity so interventions can be implemented early.
