The incidence and prevalence of youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are increasing worldwide. Youth-onset T2DM has been reported in all racial and ethnic groups, but Indigenous peoples and people of colour are disproportionately affected. People with youth-onset T2DM often have a more aggressive clinical course than those with adult-onset T2DM or those with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, the available treatment options for children and adolescents with T2DM are more limited than for adult patients. Intermediate complications of youth-onset T2DM, such as increased albuminuria, often develop in late childhood or early adulthood, and end-stage complications, including kidney failure, develop in mid-life. The increasing frequency, earlier onset and greater severity of childhood obesity in the past 50 years together with increasingly sedentary lifestyles and an increasing frequency of intrauterine exposure to diabetes are important drivers of the epidemic of youth-onset T2DM. The particularly high risk of the disease in historically disadvantaged populations suggests an important contribution of social and environmental factors, including limited access to high-quality health care, healthy food choices and opportunities for physical activity as well as exposure to stressors including systemic racism and environmental pollutants. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the development and aggressive clinical course of youth-onset T2DM is key to identifying successful prevention and management strategies.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing among young people worldwide. The American Diabetes Association has defined the risk factors that are associated with this increased risk for developing T2DM in youths.

To explore school children at high-risk for T2DM in Jordan.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The children were 10-14.9 years old. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index Z score (BMI) was determined. The waist to height ratio (WHtR) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured and three child́s risk factors were identified.

Eight hundred and seventy-one schoolchildren were screened; 26.0% were overweight and 19.3% were obese. The most common risk factor among overweight and obese children, accounting for 80.4%, was a positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus in first- or second-degree relatives. Children born to mothers with diabetes or gestational diabetes mellitus during the child's gestation represented 17.3%, and around 26.8% were found to have hypertension (stage 1 or 2). In relation to the risk factors, 12.6% presented no risk factors; 54.0% had at least one factor; 29.1% two risk factors and 4.3% had three risk factors.

Risk factors for T2DM are very common. Around 54% had one risk factor. Strategies aimed at reducing risk factors for T2DM, especially obesity, among Jordanian school children are urgently needed.

The prevalence of diabetes has reportedly increased among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries of the Middle East and may be linked to social, demographic and economic contextual factors. This study aimed: (1) to estimate the prevalence of self-reported diagnosis of diabetes in the adolescent population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); (2) to assess differences in the prevalence based on gender and (3) to identify other characteristics of those with diabetes including parental marital status, smoking/illegal drug use, quality of life and nationality.

A secondary data analysis was performed on data from the National Study of Population Health in the UAE, conducted between 2007 and 2009.

Large cross-sectional population-based survey study.

Survey was administered to a stratified random sample of 151 public and private schools from the UAE, across 7 emirates. 6365 school-attending adolescents (12-22 years; mean=16 years) participated.

Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between diabetes diagnosis and characteristics of participants after adjusting for confounding from other predictors.

The overall prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 0.9% (95% CI 0.7% to 1.2%) and was higher in males 1.5% (95% CI 1.0% to 2.1%) than females 0.5% (95% CI 0.3% to 0.8%), (p<0.001). Children of parents who were not currently married had more than twice the odds of self-reporting diabetes (p=0.031) compared with those with married parents. Adolescents who reported ever smoking/using illegal drugs had more than three times the odds of diabetes (p<0.001).

We found a positive association between certain characteristics of adolescents and their diabetes status, including male gender, parental marital status and smoking/illegal drug use. The high prevalence of smoking/illegal drug use among those reporting a diagnosis of diabetes suggests the need for behavioural and mental health interventions for adolescents with diabetes, as well as strong parental support and involvement.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing among young people worldwide. The American Diabetes Association has defined the risk factors that are associated with this increased risk for developing T2DM in youths.

To explore school children at high-risk for T2DM in Jordan.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The children were 10-14.9 years old. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index Z score (BMI) was determined. The waist to height ratio (WHtR) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured and three child́s risk factors were identified.

Eight hundred and seventy-one schoolchildren were screened; 26.0% were overweight and 19.3% were obese. The most common risk factor among overweight and obese children, accounting for 80.4%, was a positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus in first- or second-degree relatives. Children born to mothers with diabetes or gestational diabetes mellitus during the child's gestation represented 17.3%, and around 26.8% were found to have hypertension (stage 1 or 2). In relation to the risk factors, 12.6% presented no risk factors; 54.0% had at least one factor; 29.1% two risk factors and 4.3% had three risk factors.

Risk factors for T2DM are very common. Around 54% had one risk factor. Strategies aimed at reducing risk factors for T2DM, especially obesity, among Jordanian school children are urgently needed.