Type 2 diabetes is now so prevalent that it is being described as an epidemic. Yet, at the beginning of the last Century it was almost unheard of. According to the American Diabetes Association, 7 percent of the US population has been diagnosed as having the condition and many more are undiagnosed. The 40 % rise in the condition over the last thirty years closely follows the three-fold increase in obesity over the same period. The position is similar in other “Western” countries.

It is no coincidence that more than nine out of ten type 2 diabetics are overweight. Obesity, often the result of unhealthy life style choices, is a known risk factor for this condition. Yet, over the last 20 years, the number of American adults following a healthy life style has declined.

The main reason why Americans are so fat is directly linked to our modern diet. Not only are we eating more high fat convenience foods and snacks than previously, we are also eating bigger portions. Here are some examples taken form Why are Americans so fat? by Cathy Newman published in National Geographic August 2004. Pages 46 - 61:

• In 1954 a Burger King hamburger weighed 2.8 ounces and contained 202 calories; in 2004 a Burger King hamburger weighed 4.3 ounces and contained 310 calories.
• In 1955 a McDonald’s French Fries weighed 2.4 ounces and contained 210 calories. Fifty years later the portion size had increased to 7 ounces and contained 610 calories.
• In 1900 a Hershey Bar was 2 ounces and contained 297 calories; in 2004 it had increased to 7 ounces with 1000 calories.
• In 1916 a serving of coca cola was 6.7 fluid ounces and had 79 calories; in 2004 the serving had increased to 16 fluid ounces with 194 calories.
• In 1950 a portion of movie popcorn was 3 cups containing 174 calories; in 2004 the serving had increased in size seven fold containing a huge 1,700 calories.

To put that into perspective, a move size popcorn and cola contains between them almost the entire daily calorie requirements for an adult woman and 80% of an adult man’s calorie requirements. One Hershey bar contains half of the calories required each day by an adult woman and 40% of an adult man’s.

It is not just an American problem. In a recent study reported on the BBC’s web site (www.bbc.co.uk) Britons are eating 30% more food than they did in 1971.

Being overweight or obese is a matter of taking in more calories than are used. Most overweight and obese people are out of calorific balance, but only by a tiny amount of calories per day. An excess of 250 calories a day will add 26 pound in weight in a year.

Our increased calorie intake, due in large part to increased portion size, coupled with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle lie at the heart of the avoidable epidemic of type 2 diabetes. But just as the condition is closely aligned to lifestyles, so is the way to reverse it. Having a healthy, balanced, calorie controlled diet will aid weight loss particularly when combined with regular exercise.

If you are consuming fewer calories than you burn up, your body will make up the calories that it needs by burning fat reserves, which in turn makes it easier for your insulin to work effectively. This is why following a healthy, balanced diet is important. A deficit of 250 calories a day will result in a loss of 26 pounds in a year.

Obesity substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. By having a healthy diet, taking regular amounts of moderate exercise and losing weight you can significantly reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance and of falling victim to type 2 diabetes - the avoidable epidemic.

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• Proper Control of Diabetic Diet - A Golden Pathway to Stay Healthy
• Effective Treatment Procedures of Type 2 Diabetes

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