Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations, including African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Risk factors for diabetes that are specific to these populations include genetic, behavioral, and lifestyle factors (1). In the past, type 2 diabetes occurred primarily in individuals >40 years of age. However, the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has led to a marked increase in type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults (2).
A large number of epidemiological studies show that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are independently related to the chances of developing diabetes. Data from the Nurses' Health Study suggest that the lowest risk of diabetes occurs in individuals who have a BMI