Modest changes in overweight teens can reduce diabetes risk

U.S. researchers say a little more physical activity and a little better eating pattern can go a long way to reduce an obese teen's risk of developing diabetes. Researcher Robert Berkowitz of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed data on 113 teens ages 13-17 with an average weight of 200 pounds. Berkowitz looked at reducing their body mass indexes -- the ratio of their weight to their height -- as a way to improve their insulin sensitivity, which indicates how well their bodies handle sugar. "Modest weight loss, an 8 percent reduction in their weight, resulted in major improvements in insulin sensitivity in these very overweight adolescents," Berkowitz said in a statement. The study was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.