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Yes, you should be concerned about type 2 diabetes for your child. There are other health risks too. Children who are overweight are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems, arthritis, and other health problems. Childhood obesity has been linked to the premature onset of puberty. In addition, being overweight can negatively affect children's social and psychological development. A recent study found bullying and obesity in children to be positively correlated. The health threats posed by being an overweight child can be long lasting. Overweight children tend to become overweight adults, continuing to put them at greater risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

To help your child maintain a healthy weight, balance the calories your child consumes from foods and beverages with the calories your child uses through physical activity and normal growth. Remember that the goal for overweight children and teens is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal height growth and development. Children and teens should not be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider.

Additional Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/obesity.htm

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY93200.pdf Youth Obesity