Many people believe that for an individual to be defined as obese that they must be gravely overweight. The official definition of obesity may surprise many people. According to the experts, anyone who has a body mass index or BMI of more than 30 or weighs 20 percent more than their target weight is technically obese. In other words, if your target weight is 150 pounds and you weigh 180, you are considered to be obese.
Diabetes and Obesity
Obesity, including childhood obesity, is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases and disorders, especially diabetes. In fact, many people with type 2 diabetes may have been able to avoid this condition by maintaining a healthy weight. Some people with type 2 diabetes can even eliminate their diabetes related symptoms , such as high blood sugar levels, by trimming down and losing weight.
The following statistics illustrate just how closely diabetes and obesity are related:
- Only two out of every 1,000 people with a normal body weight develop type 2 diabetes.
- A moderate 5.5 out of 1,000 overweight people develop type 2 diabetes.
- A substantial 18.3 out of 1,000 obese people develop type 2 diabetes.
- 80 percent of those with diabetes are diagnosed as overweight or obese.
- Between 90 and 95 percent of diabetes cases are type 2.
If you’re wondering how you can develop diabetes from obesity, the answer is relatively simple. Excess fat disrupts the delicate balance that keeps blood sugar levels in perfect balance. As accumulated fat surrounds cell walls and the liver, high blood sugar metabolism becomes sluggish and inefficient. When this happens, less blood sugar, or energy, is absorbed by the cells and more remains in the bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels. Over a period of time, this persistent elevation can lead to diabetes from obesity.
Are You Pre-Destined for Obesity?
Almost anyone can become obese if they overeat for an extended period of time, but some people feel doomed to obesity due to their experience with childhood obesity , family history or genetic makeup. In fact, some scientists have even reported finding a “fat” gene that could eventually lead to a “cure” for obesity. While this sounds great, no one should use their background as an excuse to just give up and allow themselves to become overweight or obese. Genetics may predispose certain people to being on the heavy side, but environmental factors, like cultural practices and lifestyle choices, are what actually make an individual gain enough weight to become obese.
If your scale and body mass index (BMI) has started to creep up, here are a few tips that can help you manage your weight and avoid diabetes from obesity:
- Maintain a balance diet with selections from all food groups.
- Slowly reduce your calorie and fat intake. Replace high-calorie foods with vegetables and fruits.
- Instead of using unhealthy fats, switch to healthier choices like olive oil.
- Drink water and skip the sodas and sports drinks.
- Monitor blood sugar levels if experiencing diabetic symptoms.
- Watch out for hidden calories like high-fat salad dressings and cheesy toppings.
- Get about 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise each day. It’s fine to start out with five or ten minutes and work your way up from there.
The High Rate of Childhood Obesity
As the rate of adolescent and childhood obesity has risen, so has the rate of juvenile diabetes. Most people can’t avoid type 1 diabetes , which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly regulate high blood sugar levels; however, many cases of type 2 diabetes are preventable. Over the past three decades, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled. During the same period of time, type 2 diabetes in this same group of children has gone from virtually unheard of to fairly common.
Protect your entire family from diabetes and obesity by preparing healthy meals and sticking with a fun exercise program. In addition to protecting your own health, this plan will help your children develop habits that will keep them healthy for a lifetime.
References:
- High Blood Sugar Supplement - PharmaTree Blood Sugar 360
- Childhood Obesity – Time Magazine
- Diabetes and Obesity – The Journal of Nutrition
- Juvenile Diabetes – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
