Cardiovascular Risk Factors Increase with Obesity Severity in African American Youth with and without type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)

Severity of obesity contributes to CVR in overweight AA youth, regardless of concomitant diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that control of glycemia, while critical, is insufficient to reduce CVR. The presence of CVR factors prior to manifestation of T2DM might account for the earlier manifestation and higher prevalence of CVD in AA with T2DM. Screening for CVR factors and development of treatment strategies for weight and CVR management are needed for all overweight AA youth regardless of diabetes status.