Obesity augments the risk of developing diabetes

United States, 3 November, 2008 - Obesity is a serious, deadly and a common health problem which can further make an individual more vulnerable to other diseases. Shockingly, the latest government statistics (2005-2007 data) have revealed that the cases of diabetes in the US have doubled in last 10 years.

Experts remark that obesity is like a looming threat on the US. It’s spreading like an epidemic especially, in the South. About 13 in 1,000 cases (adults) were diagnosed with diabetes in West Virginia while in Minnesota only 5 in I, 000 were diagnosed with diabetes.

According to the scientists, Type 2 diabetes is avoidable because it is linked with unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Since obese people have a tendency to develop other health problems also, it is essential for them to keep a check on their body weight/ body mass. An obese person's risk of developing other diseases gets significantly reduced if he/she sheds just 5 percent of body weight, that is, 10 pounds for a 200-pound individual.

An easy way to lose body weight is to do moderate degree of physical exercise for at least 30 minutes for five days each week. If exercise is supplemented by a little diet control (by consuming less calories), it can do wonders for obese people. Controlling dietary intake does not mean that you stop eating food. In fact, it is important to eat a variety of healthy and nutritious food.

Experts opine that healthy eating habits can effectively avoid diabetes and obesity. The American Diabetes Association recommends 10 healthy eating habits for the purpose of preventing the development of diabetes.

The recommendations indicate that one should add a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially non-starchy types such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green beans to the daily diet.

Consuming whole grains such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta (over processed grain foods); dried beans and lentil; fish (twice or thrice a week); lean meats (like loin cuts of beef and pork) and poultry (skin should be removed from chicken and turkey); and nonfat dairy products like skimmed milk, nonfat yogurt and nonfat cheese.

Also if the above listed foods are cooked in liquid oils instead of solid fats, it really helps reducing the body mass index.

Foods and drinks that should be avoided includes soda, fruit punch, sweet tea and other sugar-sweetened drinks, snack foods and desserts like chips, cookies, cakes and ice cream. Also the portion sizes should be cut short.

These are simple recommendations and can be easily practiced by the citizens of the US.