Reduce obesity to prevent half of new diabetes cases

Reducing the prevalence of obesity, it may prevent up to half of new Type 2 diabetes cases in the United States. According to new research published today, in the Journal of the American Heart Association. An open access journal of the American Heart Association. Obesity is a major contributor to diabetes, and the new study suggests more tailored, efforts are needed to reduce the incidence of obesity-related diabetes. Prevention is even more urgent because the obesity epidemic has collided,  with the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with obesity have more severe COVID-19 infections, and could experience more adverse health consequences in the coming years as a result.

This is the first study to calculate trends, in the percentage of new diabetes case due to obesity over time. Obesity is a major contributor to diabetes. We have recently shown the years of life lost to diabetes is increasing.

Most common type of diabetes

Type 2, new diabetes cases the most common form of diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk factors for Type 2 case diabetes include being overweight or having obesity; being over the age of 45; having an immediate family member diagnosed type 2 diabetes  being physically active, less than 3 times per week; or a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy). Type 2 diabetes is more common among people who are Black, Hispanic, or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander or Asian American.

The number of deaths due to new diabetes case in people younger than 65 is increasing. Along with serious complications of the condition, including amputations and hospitalizations. In addition, Type 2 diabetes impacts heart disease and stroke risk: adults with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than people without diabetes.

Source of Information

Researchers used information from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), and four pooled cycles (2001-2016) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MESA is an ongoing, longitudinal study of 45 to 84-year-olds who did not have cardiovascular disease upon recruitment. MESA data included in this study was collected during five visits. From 2000 to 2017 at six centers across the U.S. NHANES is a cross-sectional study, of the American population. It takes place every other year using patient questionnaires, and examination data.

Findings

• Among NHANES participants, the overall prevalence of obesity increased from 34% to 41% , and was consistently higher among adults with Type 2 diabetes.
• Among MESA participants about 1 in 10 (11.6%) developed Type 2 diabetes after nine years.
• People with obesity were nearly three times as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those without obesity (20% vs. 7.3%, respectively).
• Obesity was linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes in 30 – 53% of cases.
• a greater proportion of participants with obesity had an annual family income of less than $50,000, and they were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black.
• Obesity prevalence was the lowest among non-Hispanic white females, however, this group experienced the highest obesity-related Type 2 diabetes.

This analysis included only middle-aged to older adults without cardiovascular new diabetes case disease. Who were non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black or Mexican-American, so results may not be generalizable to the entire U.S. population. Future research is required to assess the burden of obesity. On new Type of  2 case diabetes in other age groups and racial and ethnic groups.