Obese girl, 3, may be youngest ever with adult-onset diabetes

Photo: Getty Images A Houston girl, age 3, is the youngest child ever diagnosed with...

A Houston doctor has announced what may be the earliest known development of adult-onset diabetes in an obese 3-year-old.

At the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the 77 pound girl was diagnosed with the disease, usually known to occur in middle-aged adults due to poor diet, poor health or genetics.

But according to an abstract published by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, in which Dr. Michael Yafi presented his findings, the young girl's parents showed no genetic disposition to diabetes, though they were extremely overweight.

Yafi determined that the girl suffered extremely poor nutrition and "uncontrolled counting of calories and fat."

In a statement from the EASD, Yafi said, "The incidence of type 2 diabetes [another name of adult-onset diabetes] has increased dramatically worldwide in children due to the epidemic of child obesity."

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2012, more than a third were overweight or obese.

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Most Obese Counties in Texas 1. Kaufman County Obesity rate: 37 percent Physically inactive: 30 percent

Source: CountyHealthRankings.org Obese: Percent of adults that report a BMI >= 30 Most Obese Counties in Texas 1. Kaufman County Obesity rate: 37 percent Physically inactive: 30 percent

Source: CountyHealthRankings.org Obese: Percent of adults that report a BMI >= 30 Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Obese girl, 3, may be youngest ever with adult-onset diabetes 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

The girl was brought to the hospital by her parents concerned by her uncontrolled thirst and urination. At 77 pounds, she weighed as much as the average 11-year-old. Laboratory tests provided a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 can be treated through lifestyle changes, diet and medication.

Yafi prescribed the girl medication, gave her and her parents "nutritional education" and "asked the family to implement lifestyle modification by controlling their food portions, total caloric intake and increased physical activities."

Six months later the girl's weight had fallen by 25 percent. Laboratory results indicated her condition had subsided, and she was taken off medication.

In a statement, Yafi said that doctors should be mindful that type two diabetes was possible in youth as childhood obesity rates increase, and that early detection was key to stopping the disease.