Being overweight greatly increases your risk for developing serious health problems, but many of these problems can be prevented with exercise, losing weight, and eating a healthy diet. In this article we will look at the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by asking four questions.

First, What Defines Being Overweight?

There are several definitions for being overweight. One definition uses Body Mass Index, or BMI for short, to determine whether a person is overweight or underweight. The BMI is basically a ratio of weight to height. A BMI of roughly 18 to 24 is considered healthy, 25 to 29 as overweight, and 30 and over is considered obese. You can find BMI charts on the Internet that allow you to look up your height and weight to determine where you fall on the scale. Another measurement of overweight is much easier, the waist circumference. This measure is technically not whether or not you are overweight, but instead measures the amount of excess fat in the abdomen. Why is this important? Because research shows that extra fat around the waistline is more critical than other places in the body in assessing health risks. The guideline for women is a waist measurement greater than 35 inches is considered overweight and 40 inches or more is considered overweight for men.

Second, What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease where a person’s blood sugar levels are too high. These high blood sugar levels create havoc within the body, and are major factors in kidney disease, stroke, coronary artery disease, blindness, and amputations. Diabetes is a major cause of death in the United States. Type 2 diabetes is known as adult onset diabetes and is usually accompanied by old age, obesity, or physical inactivity.

Third, What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

The vast majority of people suffering from type 2 diabetes are overweight. The exact reason that obese people develop diabetes is not known, but one possible explanation is insulin resistance, where being overweight causes cells to not respond to the insulin hormone. Insulin allows sugar in the bloodstream to be used by the cells to produce energy. As the cells become insulin resistant, the sells use less sugar and more sugar is left circulating in the blood stream. The person is not getting the benefit of the energy since the sugar cannot be absorbed. The pancreas that produces the insulin must work extremely hard since increasing amounts of insulin are required. Eventually the pancreas cells become exhausted and fail.

Fourth, What Should a Person Do To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

A person can reduce the risk for getting type 2 diabetes by maintaining a moderate amount of physical exercise and losing weight. In a large-scale study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, it was discovered that losing five to seven percent of your weight and moderate exercise for thirty minutes a day for five days per week may delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. It is amazing to know that losing 10 to 20 pounds and adding some exercise might prevent the development of serious health problems.

• Diabetes Type 2 - Importance of Diet and Exercise to Reduce Risk of Complications
• Does a Genetic Defect Cause Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes?
• How Do You Lose Weight If You Have Been Told You Are Obese and Have Type 2 Diabetes?
• Diabetes Screening
• What Should People With Type 2 Diabetes Be Eating?
• How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes? Three Ways to Tell Before You Go to the Doctor
• Diabetes 2009 - Know Latest Diabetes Treatment Breakthrough For 2009
• Understanding Diabetes

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