Despite significant increases in prevalence rates of childhood
obesity in the United States during the past 2 decades, rates of
type 2 diabetes mellitus among children at the population level
have not followed a similar trajectory as those in adults. In
this review, hypotheses for the contrasting findings in children
compared with adults are explored, as are possible links between
the trends in childhood obesity rates and increases in type 2
diabetes among young adults in the United States. This review
concludes with observations about the profound policy
implications from current patterns of type 2 diabetes among
youth and particularly young adults and a proposed research
agenda regarding childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes risk over
the life course. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease
associated with long-term microvascular complications, such as
neuropathy, retinopathy, and end-stage renal disease, and
macrovascular complications, including cardiovascular disease
and stroke.1- 2 Because of its