Did You Know? Asian Americans Show Higher Diabetes Rates

Asian Americans Show Higher Diabetes Rates: Despite being thinner, Asian Americans are more likely than whites to have Type 2 diabetes and the problem is growing, a new study which included 230,500 U.S. adults, finds. Diabetes rates rose over time reaching 8% among Asian adults and 6% among whites. Genes are partly to blame, but it’s the combination of genetic vulnerability and lifestyle that’s key. Studies have shown that though Asian adults tend to weigh less than white and black adults, they often have a higher percentage of fat surrounding their abdominal organs. Visceral fat is particularly linked to the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Also, based on health surveys, Asian immigrants to the U.S. are less physically active than native-born non-Asians. Over the 12 years of the study, the number of Asian Americans reporting a diabetes diagnosis rose from just over 4% to 8%. Among white adults, the prevalence rose from just under 4% to 6%. Diabetes Care, posted online January 7, 2011