Hygieia

MALNUTRITION IS WIDESPREAD IN UK CHILDREN

Undernutrition and obesity are strongly associated with social deprivation in UK children. Researchers collected data on almost 75 000 children, with body mass index (BMI) used to define undernutrition (BMI <2nd centile), obesity (BMI >95th centile), and severe obesity (BMI >98th centile). The frequency of all three was much higher than expected; 3.3% of children were undernutritioned, 8.5% were obese, and 4.3% were severely obese. The most deprived families were most significantly affected. The severely adverse consequences of early malnutrition dictate that comprehensive and effective public health strategies are urgently required if the current drastic situation is to be improved. (

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UK TYPE 2 DIABETES PREVALENCE

Type 2 diabetes is extremely rare in 10–19 year old people, but is more common in south Asians and may be linked with social deprivation. Data were collected on every diabetes clinic attendee under 30 years old in the Leeds Health Authority, UK. From a total of almost 700 eligible patients, only 5% had type 2 diabetes, of whom 24% were south Asian and 87% were from the two least affluent areas of the region. The authors now plan to investigate this cohort further, with particular reference to …