Researchers followed 6,500 “apparently healthy” obese men and women, ages 25 to 64, for six to 10 years, and found that they were at high risk for diabetes and heart attacks (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, published online November 20, 2013). The risk for developing diabetes increases with each increase in BMI, a measure of body fat.
Definition of “Apparently Healthy” Obesity
The researchers defined “apparently healthy” as having normal blood pressure, fasting insulin levels, triglycerides, HDL (good) cholesterol, and blood sugar levels; no insulin resistance and low levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. However, they found that all of these measures eventually tended to become abnormal, moving from “apparently healthy” to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Study author Dr. Carlos Lorenzo says: “All people who are obese face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the future.”
If You Are Overweight
The problem with becoming a little bit overweight is that it almost always leads to becoming a lot overweight. See my recent report on Why Being Overweight is Dangerous for Most People. Anyone who is overweight should work on losing weight and make the lifestyle changes that are recommended for people who already have diabetes:
• exercise
• eat large amounts of fruits and vegetables
• avoid sugared drinks, sugar-added foods, fried foods and red meat
• keep blood levels of hydroxyVitamin D above 75 nmol/L
• avoid smoking
• grow muscle
• lose body fat
Dr. Gabe Mirkin is a Villager. Learn more at www.drmirkin.com
