Childhood maltreatment, adulthood obesity and incident type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study using UK biobank

Nadaraia T; Whittaker E; Kenyon I; Boonpor J; hou Z; Nakada S; Rochmawati ID; elis-Morales C; Ward J; Rod NH; Pell JP; Minnis H; Hehlmann T; Ho FK; Mackay D

doi:10.1530/ey.22.12.1

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ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology (2025) 22 12.1 | DOI: 10.1530/ey.22.12.1

ESPEYB25 12. Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Lipid Metabolism Type 2 Diabetes (2 abstracts)

12.1. Childhood maltreatment, adulthood obesity and incident type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study using UK biobank

Nadaraia T , Whittaker E , Kenyon I , Boonpor J , Zhou Z , Nakada S , Rochmawati ID , Celis-Morales C , Ward J , Rod NH , Pell JP , Minnis H , Hehlmann T , Ho FK & Mackay D

Int J Obes (Lond). 2025 Jan;49(1):140-146. doi: 10.1038/s41366-024-01652-x

Brief Summary: In a large retrospective cohort analysis, UK Biobank study participants recalled childhood maltreatment. Individuals reporting childhood maltreatment, especially those with ≥3 types, had higher risks of adult obesity and incident T2D.

Comment: Recent data from the SWEET study¹ revealed that over the last decade there has been a global twofold increase in the proportion of T2D diagnoses among children and adolescents. In North America and Australia, approximately 14% of new pediatric diabetes cases are now classified as T2D.

Concurrently, a growing body of research has underscored the long-term health consequences of early-life adversity. Childhoodmal treatment - which encompasses physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuseas well as emotional neglect - is alarmingly common. In high in come countries, an estimated 7% of children experience physical abuse and 11% endure emotional neglect.

The current retrospective cohort study examined the association between childhood maltreatment and the risk of obesity and T2D in adulthood. The analysis included 150,000 adults from the general population (mean age 55±8 years) who completed an online questionnaire incorporating the Childhood Trauma Screener to assess maltreatment history. Overall, 33% reported at least one form of maltreatment and 13% reported multiple types of maltreatment. Emotional neglect was the most reported (22%), followed by emotional abuse (9%) and sexual abuse (9%).

Individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment were more likely to be younger, female, smokers, and less likely to have a college degree. Importantly, they were also more likely to be obese, and more likely to have T2D. Those reporting 3 or more types of childhood maltreatment had a 55% higher likelihood of adult obesity, and a 65% higher risk of developing T2D compared to individuals without a history of maltreatment. Stress-related overeating and depression are potential mediators linking childhood maltreatment to obesity.

Key Message: In children with severe obesity, clinicians should maintain a heightened awareness of the potential for abuse, particularly when other warning signs are present. In adults with obesity and T2D, it is essential to assess for a history of childhood maltreatment.

Reference: 1. Gesuita R, Eckert AJ, Besançon S, Crimmins NA, Cavallo F, Kim J, Jefferies C, Gevers EF, Vamvakis A, Shah S, Amed S, Cherubini V; SWEET study group. Frequency and clinical characteristics of children and young people with type 2 diabetes at diagnosis from five world regions between 2012 and 2021: data from the SWEET Registry. Diabetologia. 2025 Jan;68(1):82-93. doi: 10.1007/s00125-024-06283-5