A School-Based Intervention for Diabetes Risk Reduction

This school-based study involved children whose race or ethnic group and socioeconomic status placed them at high risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Schools were randomly assigned to either a multicomponent school-based intervention or assessment only (control). The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased in both study groups, although the comprehensive school-based intervention was associated with greater decreases in indicators of adiposity and insulin levels. Recent data indicate that 16% of children 6 to 19 years of age in the United States are overweight, and 19% are obese. 1 Rates are even higher in economically disadvantaged ethnic minority groups. 2 Of all the consequences of childhood obesity, 3 – 5 the most serious is the development of type 2 diabetes. Children in whom type 2 diabetes develops are at risk for complications from the disease, including retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular and renal disease, that can be manifested when they are adults, if not earlier. Schools present opportunities for reducing the risk of diabetes, since no other institution has as . . .