Weight Loss is the Key to Diabetes Prevention – New Study Suggests

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that only five percent weight loss can help in reducing the chances of having type 2 diabetes as excessive weight or being obese is one of the biggest contributors to the disease.

According to the leading investigator and the assistant professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine,  Dr. Sadiya S. Khan, while the link between obesity and diabetes type 2 is already known, the results of the investigation highlight the extent to which obesity can increase the risk.

In fact, being obese may as well be the primary contributing factor to the recently diagnosed cases of diabetes around the globe. Nearly, one-half of the new diagnoses may be caused by complications of obesity in people. Consequently, the prevention of obesity is then fundamental in reducing new cases of type 2 diabetes.

To do so, following the standard procedure of treatment of obesity is effective. People who are at high risk of either of the aforementioned conditions can also follow steps recommended by healthcare providers to stay healthy.

The procedure is fairly simple and only consists of changing components of the daily intake combined with having enough physical activity.

Also Read: CDC Releases New Data on Dietary Patterns in the US 

While professional help is not required in all cases, people who have underlying medical complications or already have developed diabetes should consult a doctor before making any changes or following a proper plan in order to prevent any health issues.

The same goes for including physical activity. Exercise without supervision especially for people who have little to no experience of working out is not recommended as it can result in injuries. A combination of an appropriate diet plan with a suitable diet can then result in weight loss.

In addition, by doing so, the chances of developing other health issues are also reduced. For instance, obesity and diabetes are both associated with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Secondly, both of these are also major contributors to cardiovascular events such as myocardial attacks.

This is why the study concludes that weight loss can effectively prevent or treat obesity and diabetes along with other associated diseases. However, at the same time, it also accentuated the need for better healthcare policies as the factors in having type 2 diabetes appeared to be different in low-income households.

Instead of obesity, lack of medical care and resources was found to be the number one cause of type 2 diabetes and linked risks, especially since the past year. The pandemic has made a lot of people lose their jobs. In the US, the soaring unemployment rates remain thirty-two percent even though the economic lockdown ended in the summer of 2020.

As a result, many people are not able to afford medical visits, procedures, or even basic medication for obesity or diabetes. Therefore, more policies are needed to address the growing issue as the pandemic is expected to last for many more months before finally coming to an end.