Diabetes Incidence Jumps
50 Percent in Past 10 Years-Obesity Rates Climbing
59% don’t know their risk for diabetes
In a recent ADA survey, an alarming 59 percent
of these individuals who were obese or overweight
maintained they were not at personal risk for
diabetes. Even though more than half of overweight
or obese respondents knew that being overweight/obese
was a leading risk factor for developing type
2 diabetes. Fifty-two percent of all survey
respondents qualified as overweight or obese,
according to Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), the incidence of diabetes
has jumped nearly 50 percent in the past 10
years. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form
of the disease, typically strikes middle-aged
and older adults.
The survey was conducted as part of Weight Loss
Matters, the ADA’s first educational initiative
to focus on the relationship between weight
and diabetes. The ADA survey, conducted via
telephone, randomly questioned 600 adult men
and women across the country about their recent
weight loss efforts and their knowledge of general
diet and exercise facts.
Sixty-five percent of overweight or obese respondents
attempted to lose weight in the past two years.
On average, they maintained their weight loss
for 25 weeks. Only 22 percent of these individuals
were successful at maintaining their new weight
for a year or more (as recommended in The Annual
Review of Nutrition Journal 2001).
Seventy-two percent of people surveyed reported
feeling confident in their ability to identify
portion sizes, but only 23 percent of these
individuals actually knew the correct portion
size for servings of protein, carbohydrate,
and dairy as determined by the USDA Food Guide
Pyramid. With portion sizes in America growing
significantly, portion control is a key component
to a successful weight loss effort.
81 percent of people reported exercising to
lose weight. However, three quarters of these
respondents underestimated by one day or more
the frequency of exercise required to gain a
health benefit. Research has shown that exercising
at least 5 times a week, for at least 30 minutes
each time can provide a health benefit and can
even help delay or prevent the onset of type
2 diabetes in people at risk.
While 92 percent of respondents said they felt
comfortable talking to their doctors about weight
loss, only 26 percent of people who tried to
lose weight said their physician played a role
in their effort. Interestingly, the majority
of respondents reported that they, rather than
their healthcare providers, initiated the conversations.
According to an article in Obesity Research,
obese patients who receive weight management
counseling are significantly more likely to
undertake weight loss programs than those who
do not.
According to the survey, 38 percent of respondents
reported that a person who is 60 pounds overweight
needs to lose 60 pounds or more to achieve a
health benefit. According to the Diabetes Prevention
Program (DPP), an overweight or obese individual
only needs to lose 5 to 7 percent of their weight
(10-15 pounds) to achieve a health benefit.
The survey findings show that people are receptive
to talking with their doctor about weight loss,
but more needs to be done to encourage health
care professionals to take every opportunity
to speak to their patients about maintaining
a healthy weight."
