(Finland) Over a third of obese kids prediabetic
- The end of childhood
- Dec 22, 2025
- 1 min read
Dec 15, 2025, YLE: News group: Prediabetes rising among children in Finland
Over a third of children examined for obesity had prediabetes — a condition that can potentially progress to type 2 diabetes, if left untreated.
A recent study shows that prediabetes has become increasingly common among children in Finland in recent years.
The condition has particularly risen among overweight adolescents, reports news group Uutissuomalainen.
Prediabetes is characterised by elevated blood sugar levels that do not yet meet the diagnostic thresholds for diabetes. If left untreated, it can progress to type 2 diabetes.
Research conducted by Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland found that more than one third of children examined for obesity had prediabetes, while just over one percent met the criteria for adult-onset (type 2) diabetes.
The study included roughly 600 children aged 6–16 who were assessed for overweight or obesity between 2002 and 2020. A control group comprised nearly 500 children aged 7–16, representative of the general population.
At the start of the study period, around 10 percent of the children examined had prediabetes. By 2019, the figure had risen to 50 percent.
While health news from Finland isn't always encouraging, Yle News' latest episode of the All Points North podcast explores how the country may quietly be joining the ranks of the world's Blue Zones — regions renowned for longevity and well-being.
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