Obesity is one of the most common health problems around the globe, yet we are still discovering how and why it affects so many people. According to the CDC, nearly 100 million American adults were obese as of 2015-2016. As the rates of obesity keep climbing, researchers continue to study how it is affecting the population. Researchers from the University of Oxford used a large dataset to study how obesity affects adults and found that men and women are affected differently.
The data showed that obesity can increase the risk for several other health conditions, including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Kidney failure
- Cancer
But, the risk of type 2 diabetes was greater for women with obesity than men with obesity. “This study shows just how harmful carrying excess weight can be to human health, and that women and men may experience different diseases as a result,” said study author Dr. Jenny Censin. To be clear, men with obesity were also at risk of type 2 diabetes, but high BMI conferred a higher risk for women than men. The study authors are hoping that greater knowledge of how obesity can affect each sex can help reshape public strategies aimed to prevent obesity-related conditions.
Type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed easily by your doctor. If your BMI is greater than 30 (check your BMI here), you may have obesity and could be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and should schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to determine if you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
If you have obesity and type 2 diabetes, consider attending a free informational session with Dr. Shillingford, MD to learn more about how gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band surgery can help. Dr. Shillingford is a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery, as well as weight loss surgery. Call his Boca Raton office today for an appointment at (561) 483-8840.
