Study examines link between school meals and adolescent prediabetes

A recent cross-sectional study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and CardioMetabolic Care has investigated the relationship between school meal participation, dietary intake, and prediabetes prevalence among American adolescents.

Analyzing data from 802 adolescents aged 12 to 18 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2017 and 2023, researchers found that participating in school breakfast at least once a week was associated with a 30% higher prevalence of prediabetes compared to non-participation. However, this association was no longer statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons.

Participation in school lunch programs showed no statistically significant relationship with adolescent prediabetes. The study highlights the metabolic vulnerability of adolescence, noting that approximately 33% of U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 17 were estimated to have prediabetes in 2023.