Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health. People are generally considered obese when their body mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square of the person's height, is over 30 kg/m2, with the range 25–30 kg/m2 defined as overweight. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis and depression.

Diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems in the 21st century and one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally. It is the 4th or 5th leading cause of death in most high-income countries, with ~366 million diabetics in 2011 and an estimated 552 million in 2030. On the other hand, obesity has also become a worldwide epidemic. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance, with pancreatic beta cells compensating for insulin resistance by augmenting insulin secretion. The failure of beta-cells is believed to cause pre-diabetes, a condition that can lead to diabetes.  Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight. Diabetes & obesity are major contributors to various other chronic diseases such as coronary artery diseases, myocardial infarction, hypertension, dyslipidemia and a number of other complicated disorders mounting evidence shows that a Mediterranean style-diet may be useful in preventing and treating chronic diseases related to mild chronic inflammation such as visceral (abdominal) obesity, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes.