By Steven Reinberg MONDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Obese and
overweight teens may be at higher risk for developing advanced
kidney disease as adults, Israeli researchers report. If,
however, they lose weight their chances may be lowered, experts
say. "This study comes as close as one can to predicting that
losing weight can reduce the risk of kidney disease," said Dr.
Kirsten Johansen, a professor in the division of nephrology at
the University of California, San Francisco. Johansen, who wrote
an accompanying editorial with the study, said that "this gives
us one more reason we need to address childhood obesity and
overweight, but it's hard to do." There isn't an easy solution
to the obesity epidemic, but if it can be halted, fewer people
will develop heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes, she
said. Johansen, however, is optimistic. "The rate of obesity and
overweight has gone up quickly in our kids. If we can turn this
around, it could go down quickly as well," she said. "I'm not
saying it's easy. I