Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Researchers Found Type 2 Diabetes Soared In US Youngsters During Covid
Rates of new-onset type 2 diabetes climbed 62%—and type 1 diabetes increased 17%—among US youth after the COVID-19 pandemic began, especially in Black and Hispanic children, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open. For the study, Kaiser Permanente researchers tracked rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among health system members aged 0 to 19 years in southern California with no history of diabetes from January 2016 to December 2021. (Van Beusekom, 9/22)
People who struggle with depression could face a higher risk of diabetes, according to new research from Diabetes U.K., a British charity that aims to improve the care and treatment of people with diabetes. The researchers discovered that people with a history of depression are more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes, according to a press release from the organization. ... For the first time, the study revealed that depression directly causes an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. (Stabile, 9/24)
America's obesity crisis, linked to diabetes, is shown in charts —
More than 4 in 10 Americans now fit the medical definition for having obesity, putting them at risk for serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. But when looking obesity rates at the state level, that number can be even more drastic. Recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 22 states have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%, compared to 19 states in 2021. Just ten years ago, no state passed the 35% threshold of adult obesity. (Chernikoff, 9/24)