Weight-related concerns and behaviors in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are at risk for disordered eating and unhealthy weight-control practices. This study describes (a) participants' weight perception and weight satisfaction, (b) participants' scores on the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey (DEPS), (c) prevalence of weight-control behaviors, and (d) association of DEPS and weight-control behaviors with race, gender, age, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), weight satisfaction, and weight perception. TheAHEAD survey was completed by 295 participants to determine weight satisfaction, weight perception, and weight-control behaviors.

Disordered eating behaviors in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Eating disorders are a significant health problem for many adolescents and are described as occurring along a spectrum of symptoms including disordered eating behaviors and clinical eating disorders. Poor self-esteem and body image, intense fear of gaining weight or refusal to maintain weight, and purging unwanted calories are clinical features of some eating disorders. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic illness with marked insulin deficiency.

The care of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has dramatically increased in children and adolescents over the past 10 years. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and high insulin levels. Reasons cited for the rise of this condition in children and adolescents are speculated to stem from obesity because of a rise in sedentary behavior, nonnutritious food choices, and genetic predisposition.