Diabetes Risk & Amp – Your Waist Size

Waist size can predict your diabetes risk, even if you are not obese – according to a new study.

Diabetes experts have long used both body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight related to height – and waist size to predict risk.

Obese people, with a BMI of 30 or more, and non-obese people with large waists are considered at higher risk.

Now – the new research finds that waist size alone predicts risk of diabetes – especially in women.

Some overweight men and women with very large waists have the same risk of diabetes as obese people, says researcher Claudia Langenberg, MD, PhD, of the Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, England. In BMI terminology, “overweight” is a step below “obese.”

Trouble

More doctors might consider using their tape measures.The research results now provide clear evidence that a simple measurement of waist circumference can identify overweight people (BMI 25-[29.9]) with a large waist to be at risk of future diabetes  equivalent to that of obese people.A large waist is 35 inches or more in a woman and 40 inches or more in a man.

Waist Size, BMI, and Diabetes Risk

About 19 million Americans have diagnosed diabetes –  according to the American Diabetes Association.

Most have type 2. The body does not make enough of the hormone insulin or the cells don’t use it effectively.

The InterAct Consortium, re-evaluated data on more than 28,500 people.

They lived in eight European countries. They were in the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study. It looked at lifestyle and other factors, and chronic disease.

They compared about 12,400 people with type 2 diabetes with about 16,100 people without.

They looked at their waist and BMI data.

Among the findings:

• Overweight women with a large waist (35-plus) and overweight men with a large waist (40-plus) had a 10-year incidence of diabetes similar to that of obese people.
• Higher waist size and higher BMI were each linked with higher diabetes risk.
• High waist size was a stronger risk factor for women than for men.
• Obese men with a large waist (40-plus) were 22 times more likely to develop diabetes than men with a low-normal BMI (18.5-22.4) and a smaller waist (less than 37 inches).
• Obese women with a large waist (35-plus) were nearly 32 times as likely to get diabetes than women of low-normal weight and a smaller waist (less than 31 inches).

BMI measures overall adiposity and gives no information about fat distribution

Adiposity is a term used to represent fatness. Waist size reflects belly fat and fat around the internal organs. (That fat is strongly linked with type 2 diabetes).

and as always you must live well to be well….to your personal wellness…

don

team destiny

Chocolate to Prevent Heart Attacks

Dark Chocolate

My wife and I have long believed that dark chocolate has benefits — this is an article we found that we wish to share on dark chocolate…..

Dark chocolate to Prevent Heart Attacks (source Reid’s Team)

Reid’s team first looked at the treatment effects linked with dark chocolate by evaluating studies already published.

They computed the number of heart attacks and strokes that would occur with and without the dark chocolate.

They also looked at 2,013 people from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study. All had metabolic syndrome but none had diagnosed heart disease or diabetes at the start.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is diagnosed when three or more of the following factors are present: high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, high blood sugar, or a large waist size.

Reid’s team looked at costs associated with the heart and stroke problems.

They used these cost figures to determine how much money could be spent each year to educate high-risk people about dark chocolate and still be cost-effective.

Their study looked longer-term than most, 10 years.

Dark Chocolate to Prevent Heart Disease, Stroke

Feeling Great

First, the researchers plugged in the best-case scenario: 100% of the people eating the recommended 100 grams of dark chocolate (3.5 ounces, or about two bars) a day for 10 years.

This would prevent 70 nonfatal and 15 fatal heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people over 10 years, according to the study model.

With an 80% adherence rate, there would be 55 fewer nonfatal and 10 fewer fatal heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people over 10 years.

The estimates may be low.

They found that it would be cost-effective to spend $42 per person per year on education.

The education might include advertising, educational campaigns, or subsidies to pay for the chocolate.

as always you must live well to be well….to your personal wellness….

don

team destiny