Shanghai residents as young as 14 are now at risk of diabetes, once a disease of the middle-aged, as a lifestyle of rich foods and scant exercise becomes more widespread, medical experts said.

"Previously, 90 percent of children with diabetes were type I, which is due to patients' own immunity disorders," said Dr Ning Guang, vice president of Ruijin Hospital.

"Now 30 to 50 percent of children with diabetes are type II" -- the kind related to high calories and low exercise."

He said recent research found 10 percent of obese children have diabetes; 30 percent have abnormal glucose.

"If they don't undergo proper intervention and adjust their unhealthy life style, they will all develop diabetes in five to 10 years," Ning said.

Obesity among Chinese children between six and 12 is up to 14.05 percent. For boys, the percentage is 15.7; for girls, it's 12.3 percent.

"Controlling junk and rich food, doing exercise at least half an hour per day ... are all effective measures for obese children to avoid diabetes," said Dr Luo Feihong of Fudan University.

(Shanghai Daily November 16, 2009)