We all are aware of many obesity related health disorders; diabetes being one of the most important among them. Long before, obesity was blamed for type 2 diabetes. But scientists in their research studies have also linked obesity with type 1 diabetes. According to the researchers, childhood obesity often coincides with type 1 diabetes in various populations. Though the result was found in only those patients who already have compromised pancreatic beta cell function, but the fact that being overweight accelerates the onset of type 1 diabetes can’t be overlooked.

Type 1 diabetes, often termed as juvenile-onset diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas is not able to make the hormone insulin. The cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin are attacked and destroyed by person’s own immune system. Thus, pancreas of the affected person loses its ability to generate insulin. The reason behind this defect is not clearly understood but scientists say that obesity leads to additional metabolic demands which are associated with higher Body Mass Index (BMI).

Body Mass Index is calculated from weight and height of a person. It’s a way of measuring obesity in which person with BMI over than 30 are considered obese. So in this case a person already with compromised pancreatic beta cell function is not able to metabolize the carbohydrate and sugar. In this way obesity promotes the condition of type 1 diabetes.

The increasing risk of type 1 diabetes in overweight children was also consolidated by the observation in which scientists found that as the children got heavier, the onset age of type 1 diabetes got younger. According to scientists, their findings do not encompass children with type 1 diabetes as they were genetically predisposed to this disease but they argue that obesity substantially accounts for the onset of this disease.

It has been found in survey that over 22 million children across the world are overweight due to unhealthy food habits, popularity of television and sedentary life style. This situation is very alarming as it has been clearly stated by researchers that obesity may not directly cause type 1 diabetes but plays an important role in triggering type 1 diabetes. So obesity should be controlled both in children as well as  in adult to get hold of diabetes - both type 1 and type 2.

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