Obesity is a well-known risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Now, a large new study adds to evidence that it also contributes to the much less common Type 1 diabetes.
The study, of nearly 1.5 million Israeli teenagers, found that those who were obese were twice as likely to develop Type 1 diabetes by young adulthood, versus those in the normal weight range.
Experts said the findings add to evidence that obesity should be considered a risk factor for Type 1 diabetes.
"It's important to have a healthy body mass index for many reasons, and this is yet another one," said Frank Martin, senior director of research at JDRF, a nonprofit that funds Type 1 diabetes research.
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