Elise Wood, Scott Vines, Rich Castrataro A Codependent Relationship Obesity and Type II Diabetes

Obesity and Diabetes…  Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, associated with a BMI of 30 or greater.  Type II diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood and the cells ignore the insulin. Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.

What are the causes…?  Obesity and diabetes are reciprocal  Normal: body breaks down all sugars and starches into glucose. Insulin takes sugar from blood to cell- lowers blood glucose levels.  Diabetes: causes glucose levels to rise and the body is resistant to insulin.

Symptoms of Type II…  Fatigue  Blurred Vision  Increased urination- Kidneys  Weight Loss  Frequent Infections  Nerve Damage  Weakened Immune System

Prevalence & Growing Statistics…  According to the Center for Disease Control, we are eating ourselves into a diabetes epidemic.  Of the people diagnosed with type II diabetes, about 80 to 90 percent are also diagnosed as obese.  Last year the diabetes and obesity rates increased 6 percent and 57 percent.  Every three seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.

Treatment & Management…  Metabolism study in mice found that mice lacking an enzyme were leaner and resistant to weight gain...Renin-blocking drugs, such as those used to control blood pressure, may also be used eventually to treat diabetes and obesity, as well as insulin resistance.  Reach and stay at a healthy weight.  Work with a team of health professionals, including a nutritionist, dietitian, therapist or an obesity specialist,  Understand and make changes in your eating and activity habits.

Prevention…  Eating healthier foods  Be physically active  Losing 5-10% of your body weight will reduce the risk of diabetes  Maintain healthy weight/lifestyle

Childhood Epidemic…  Approximately 17%/12.5 mill of children aged 2-19 are obese  Of the children born in 2000, one in three will eventually develop diabetes.  Diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, but type II in children is growing, mainly fueled by the childhood obesity epidemic.

Risk Factors for Children…  Obesity: High BP, high cholesterol, breathing problems, sleep apnea, and asthma.  Psychological and social problems: isolations, discrimination and poor self- esteem  Diabetes: being overweight, sedentary lifestyle, if parents or siblings are type II, more common in girls than boys.

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