Diabetes and Obesity: The Twin Epidemics

The statistics are alarming:

• 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes
• 18.8 are diagnosed; 7 million are undiagnosed
• 79 million have prediabetes
• 60 percent of people with type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent type, do not have their diabetes under control with current treatment
• More than 80 percent of people with type 2 are overweight or obese
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputation (80,000 this year) and blindness among adults
• Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke

Diabetes and obesity are called the twin epidemics. The numbers are bad and getting worse. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades. In some states, nearly 40 percent of children are obese. Of children born in 2000, it is estimated that one-third will develop obesity-related diabetes. 

This is not just a U.S. problem. It is a global problem. This week, the International Diabetes Federation, a group comprised of 200 organizations from more that 160 countries, released a position paper recommending that bariatric, or gastric bypass, surgery be considered earlier in eligible patients to prevent complications of diabetes.

You've seen the headlines: too much food, too little exercise. Recent studies have shown that stress, depression, and too little sleep may also be contributing factors. But it's not that simple. The causes of obesity are complex and deep rooted and occur at the individual and organizational levels of society.

What Can We Do?

Some experts believe that 75 percent of overeating is emotional. Many of us are aware enough to know that we use food to medicate ourselves when we're feeling stressed, depressed, anxious, bored, lonely, angry, frustrated. The key is knowing your triggers and having a plan to deal with them (see links below).

Others approaches, like setting specific goals based on stages of changes and reframing, or looking at the problem from a different perspective, have also been shown effective for behavior change. See earlier posts:

http://healthsearchadvisor.blogspot.com/2009/08/woman-loses-90-pounds-without-surgery.html

http://healthsearchadvisor.blogspot.com/2009/08/tools-for-healthy-lifestyle-change.html

Certainly, Let's Move, the comprehensive initiative launched last year by First Lady Michele Obama, is an excellent start in changing the national dialogue about food, nutrition, and exercise and has an impressive list of accomplishments. The Let's Move website offers ideas and resources for parents, children, community leaders, elected officials, chefs, healthcare providers, and faith-based and community organizations.

But after watching Jamie Oliver fight with school cafeteria employees and local government administrators about providing children with healthy food choices, it seems there is lots more to be done and that we each need to take responsibility beyond our own bodies and homes.

We might start by asking, "Don't we, and our children, deserve better?"


Photo credit
David Shankbone, November 2006. Promenade of New York State Theater with Elie Nadelman Sculpture 


Resources
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. http://www.jamieoliver.com/

America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids. https://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/

Gain Control of Emotional Eating. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047342

References

American Diabetes Association.  http://www.diabetes.org/

International Diabetes Federation. http://www.idf.org/