Rates of Type 2 diabetes have been steadily rising among children. But a national study chaired by Gary Foster of Temple's Center for Obesity Research and Education has found that school-based interventions can help reduce various risk factors for Type 2 diabetes in children. Half of the middle schools in the study adopted guidelines for activity levels and food offerings in cafeterias, vending machines and at school events, and the other half acted as the controls. "Obese children are at the greatest risk for developing metabolic abnormalities," said Foster. "Reducing the rates of obesity in this high-risk group can have profound effects on their risk of developing diabetes."