Diabetes Research to Start This Month
November 2, 2005 for immediate release
The prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in children will be explored in a
UNBC research project that is involving more than 300 students in four
Prince George elementary schools.
The study is being led by Hanh Huynh (pronounced: Han hu-WIN) of the Northern Medical Program, who will be working with other researchers to measure the food intake, physical activity, blood pressure, and body measurements of the grade 1-6 students at Ron Brent, Southridge, Peden Hill, and Edgewood elementary schools.
“Diabetes has long been considered an adult disease, but its prevalence is on the rise in children,” says Dr. Huynh. “Type 2 Diabetes in children has been more strongly linked to obesity than to any other clinical condition. As the child population becomes increasingly overweight, we can expect that Type 2 Diabetes will become even more common and occur in even younger children.”
Previous national studies have found that, between 1981 and 1996, the number of overweight children has risen from 11 to 33% in boys and from 13 to 27 % in girls. Obesity rates have risen from 2 to 10% in boys and from 2 to 9% in girls. “There is no system in place to monitor obesity trends, especially for children. Our study will involve one survey per year, for six years. This year, we will obtain baseline information from School District #57. Then, we’ll track changes over time, as well as the effects of prevention programs we implement locally to help children become more active and healthy.”
Researchers are expecting to start their first school visits later this month. All students participating in the study will only be identified with their Personal Educational Number, which will ensure confidentiality and assist with tracking of the students over the study period.
“We’ve selected Grade 1 to Grade 6 (6-11 year old age group) because the increase in childhood obesity is most prevalent in this group and because Type 2 Diabetes in children has been diagnosed as early as 10 years of age,” says Dr. Huynh. “A community-specific study like this has never been conducted in Prince George before. The support of the schools and parents has been just amazing, and with this wonderful support, we will have a better chance of being successful in preventing the development of Type 2 Diabetes in our child population. As adults, we owe this to our children.”
Contact:
Hanh Huynh, Northern Medical Program, UNBC - 250.960.6444
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
The study is being led by Hanh Huynh (pronounced: Han hu-WIN) of the Northern Medical Program, who will be working with other researchers to measure the food intake, physical activity, blood pressure, and body measurements of the grade 1-6 students at Ron Brent, Southridge, Peden Hill, and Edgewood elementary schools.
“Diabetes has long been considered an adult disease, but its prevalence is on the rise in children,” says Dr. Huynh. “Type 2 Diabetes in children has been more strongly linked to obesity than to any other clinical condition. As the child population becomes increasingly overweight, we can expect that Type 2 Diabetes will become even more common and occur in even younger children.”
Previous national studies have found that, between 1981 and 1996, the number of overweight children has risen from 11 to 33% in boys and from 13 to 27 % in girls. Obesity rates have risen from 2 to 10% in boys and from 2 to 9% in girls. “There is no system in place to monitor obesity trends, especially for children. Our study will involve one survey per year, for six years. This year, we will obtain baseline information from School District #57. Then, we’ll track changes over time, as well as the effects of prevention programs we implement locally to help children become more active and healthy.”
Researchers are expecting to start their first school visits later this month. All students participating in the study will only be identified with their Personal Educational Number, which will ensure confidentiality and assist with tracking of the students over the study period.
“We’ve selected Grade 1 to Grade 6 (6-11 year old age group) because the increase in childhood obesity is most prevalent in this group and because Type 2 Diabetes in children has been diagnosed as early as 10 years of age,” says Dr. Huynh. “A community-specific study like this has never been conducted in Prince George before. The support of the schools and parents has been just amazing, and with this wonderful support, we will have a better chance of being successful in preventing the development of Type 2 Diabetes in our child population. As adults, we owe this to our children.”
Contact:
Hanh Huynh, Northern Medical Program, UNBC - 250.960.6444
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
