Type 2 diabetes has risen 40 per cent among children in obesity epidemic

In areas such as Camberwell Green children have dozens of fast food options on their way home
In some areas, children have dozens of fast food options on their way home Credit: Scott Barbour/Getty

Type 2 diabetes in children has risen 40 per cent in three years amid Britain’s obesity epidemic.

The condition - normally seen among older adults, and usually caused by excess weight - was not recorded at all among children until this century, but is now soaring, the new figures show.

It comes as health chiefs announced plans to ban junk food outlets near schools, in a number of “healthy new towns”.

NHS chiefs vowed to face up to the “scandalous” proliferation of fast-food joints targeting school pupils, as they announced the expansion of plans to “design out” unhealthy lifestyles.

The new figures from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reveal that 715 children and young people under the age of 25 received care for Type 2 diabetes from Paediatric Diabetes Units in England and Wales in 2016/17. Four in five of the children were obese.

The figure is an increase of 41 per cent on the 507 cases from 2013/14.

Experts said these figures were likely to be the “tip of the iceberg” as they only relate to children treated by paediatric practice, with many more likely to be being treated by GPs.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 is largely preventable and is closely linked to lifestyle, such as unhealthy eating or lack of exercise.

In 2000, the first cases of type 2 diabetes in children were recorded in the UK, with eight cases recorded involving girls of Pakistani, Indian and Arabic origin, aged nine to 16. Soon after, the first cases were recorded in obese white children. 

The condition can lead to a range of serious health problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and lower limb amputation.

The figures were highlighted by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, which called for the reversal of cuts to public health budgets. 

It follows figures showing 22,000 children are classed as severely obese – the most overweight scale – when they leave primary school.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “These figures are a sad indictment of how we have collectively failed as a society to tackle childhood obesity, one of the biggest health challenges we face.

“Type 2 diabetes typically develops in adults over the age of 40, so while still rare in children, it is extremely worrying that we are seeing more young people develop the condition.

Ten areas in England are piloting new ways to encourage residents to take more exercise, and slim down bulging waistlines.

A shop advert shows fried chicken meals for £1
A shop advert shows fried chicken meals for £1 Credit: National News

Three of the towns have announced plans to ban junk food from the streets surrounding schools.

It comes as 12 major housing developers signed up to plans to expand the programme nationwide, with “health and wellbeing” measures included in all new housing developments and regeneration schemes.

Darlington has drawn up plans to ban takeaways selling hot food from within 400 metres of schools, by the end of this year. Barton, in Oxfordshire, has now introduced a ban on any licenses to those wanting to sell hot and cold food, drinks or confectionery, within 100 metres of a school, between 7.30am and 6pm.

And planners in Northstowe, Cambridgeshire intend to limit the number of outlets in the new town development.

Sir Malcolm Grant, chairman of NHS England, said firm action was needed to protect children from poor habits that could shorten lives.

“The proliferation of fast food takeaways near schools is a scandal. It is a childhood obesity time-bomb,” he warned.

License this content