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Type
2 Diabetes
What is it?
Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes or
noninsulin-dependent diabetes. It is the most common type
of diabetes in the U.S. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which
blood sugar levels are above normal. High blood sugar is a
major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease,
stroke, and blindness.
How is it linked to being overweight?
More than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
It is not known exactly why people who are overweight are
more likely to suffer from this disease. It may be that being
overweight causes cells to change, making them less effective
at using sugar from the blood. This then puts stress on the
cells that produce insulin (a hormone that carries sugar from
the blood to cells) and makes them gradually fail.
What can weight loss do?
Losing weight and becoming more physically active can help
one’s body control blood sugar levels. Losing weight and exercising
more may also allow one to reduce the amount of diabetes medication
he or she takes.
Heart
Disease and Stroke
What is it?
Heart disease means that the heart and circulation (blood
flow) are not functioning normally. A person with heart disease
may suffer from a heart attack, congestive heart failure,
sudden cardiac death, angina (chest pain), or abnormal heart
rhythm. During a stroke, blood and oxygen do not flow normally
to the brain, possibly causing paralysis or death. Heart disease
is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and stroke is the
third leading cause.
How is it linked to being overweight?
People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high
blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides (blood fats)
and LDL cholesterol (a fat-like substance often called the
“bad cholesterol”), and low levels of HDL cholesterol (the
“good cholesterol”). These are all risk factors for heart
disease and stroke. In addition, people with more body fat
have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation.
Inflammation in blood vessels and throughout the body may
raise heart disease risk.
What can weight loss do?
Losing 5 to 15 percent of one’s body weight can lower the
chances for developing heart disease or having a stroke. For
a person weighing 200 pounds, this means losing as little
as 10 pounds. Weight loss may improve blood pressure, triglyceride,
and cholesterol levels; improve how the heart works and blood
flows; and decrease inflammation throughout the body.
Cancer
What is it?
Cancer occurs when cells in one part of the body, such as
the colon, grow abnormally or out of control and possibly
spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver. Cancer
is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.
How is it linked to being overweight?
Being overweight may increase the risk of developing several
types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, esophagus,
and kidney. Overweight is also linked with uterine and postmenopausal
breast cancer in women. Gaining weight during adult life increases
the risk for several of these cancers. Being overweight also
may increase the risk of dying from some cancers. It is not
known exactly how being overweight increases cancer risk.
It may be that fat cells make hormones that affect cell growth
and lead to cancer. Also, eating or physical activity habits
that may lead to being overweight may also contribute to cancer
risk.
What can weight loss do?
Avoiding weight gain may prevent a rise in cancer risk. Weight
loss, and healthy eating and physical activity habits, may
lower cancer risk.
Sleep
Apnea
What is it?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing
for short periods during the night. A person who has sleep
apnea may suffer from daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating,
and even heart failure.
How is it linked to being overweight?
The risk for sleep apnea is higher for people who are overweight.
A person who is overweight may have more fat stored around
his or her neck. This may make the airway smaller. A smaller
airway can make breathing difficult, loud (snoring), or stop
altogether. In addition, fat stored in the neck and throughout
the body can produce substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation
in the neck may be a risk factor for sleep apnea.
What can weight loss do?
Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea. Weight loss may
help to decrease neck size and lessen inflammation.
Osteoarthritis
What is it?
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder. With osteoarthritis,
the joint bone and cartilage (tissue that protects joints)
wear away. Osteoarthritis most often affects the joints of
the knees, hips, and lower back.
How is it linked to being overweight?
Extra weight may place extra pressure on joints and cartilage,
causing them to wear away. In addition, people with more body
fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause
inflammation. Inflammation at the joints may raise the risk
for osteoarthritis.
What can weight loss do?
Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower
back, and lessen inflammation in the body. Losing weight may
help improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Gallbladder
Disease
What is it?
Gallstones are clusters of solid material that form in the
gallbladder. They are made mostly of cholesterol and can sometimes
cause abdominal or back pain.
How is it linked to being overweight?
People who are overweight have a higher risk for developing
gallbladder disease and gallstones. They may produce more
cholesterol, a risk factor for gallstones. Also, people who
are overweight may have an enlarged gallbladder, which may
not work properly.
What can weight loss do?
Weight loss — especially fast weight loss (more than 3 pounds
per week) or loss of a large amount of weight — can actually
increase your chance of developing gallstones. Modest, slow
weight loss of about 1/2 to 2 pounds a week is less likely
to cause gallstones.
Fatty
Liver Disease
What is it?
Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the liver
cells and causes injury and inflammation in the liver. It
can sometimes lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis (build-up
of scar tissue that blocks proper blood flow in the liver),
or even liver failure. Fatty liver disease is like alcoholic
liver damage, but it is not caused by alcohol and can occur
in people who drink little or no alcohol.
How is it linked to being overweight?
People who have diabetes or “pre-diabetes” (when blood sugar
levels are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic
range) are more likely to have fatty liver disease than people
without these conditions. And people who are overweight are
more likely to have diabetes. It is not known why some people
who are overweight or diabetic get fatty liver and others
do not.
What can weight loss do?
Losing weight can help you control your blood sugar levels.
It can also reduce the build-up of fat in your liver and prevent
further injury. People with fatty liver disease should avoid
drinking alcohol.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 03-4098
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