Unhealthy lifestyles may be contributing to earlier cases of diabetes::

Although diabetes has typically been associated with old age, researchers from the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University recently highlighted the increasing trend of kids suffering from the chronic illness. In order to investigate factors that contribute to childhood obesity and related diseases, the health experts surveyed third-grade students from four New York elementary schools.

The results showed that 70 percent of the children drink between two and five beverages that contain added sugar daily, and 42 percent eat at least two fast food meals per week.

In addition to consuming diets that were high in fat and sugar, 85 percent of the students reported that they spent between two and five hours each day watching television, which may indicate that they do not spend adequate time playing outdoors.

Lead researcher Susan Terwilliger said that many parents tell their kids not to drink from school water fountains to help them avoid germs. However, she noted that this may increase the amount of artificially flavored drinks that they consume.

Young children need adequate nutrients and a balanced diet to promote healthy growth and help them avoid chronic conditions such as diabetes. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats may help both children and adults sustain wholesome diets.