Risk of diabetes could also mean risk of weak bones

Overweight, prepubescent children at risk of developing diabetes are more likely to have weak bones compared with those without prediabetes, according to a study of 140 overweight children aged 7 to 11 years. Bone mass comparisons revealed that total bone mineral content was 4% lower among the children with prediabetes than those without prediabetes, even after adjusting for race, sex, height, and fat-free soft tissue mass. Bone density scores were lower among those with greater amounts of centralized body fat versus total body fat.

Researchers said that the study illustrates a connection between childhood obesity and skeletal fractures, as well as the importance of exercise. Future research to help further explore these relationships includes determining the effect of abdominal fat on bone mass and vitamins D and K metabolism. Study results were published in the July 16 issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.