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Where Do We Go
from Here?
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, take heart!
Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, plus losing just
a little weight, can prevent or delay the onset of the
disease. This fact is true for people of all ages and
ethnicities.
According to Harvard University, the best ways to lower your risk of
developing diabetes are to control your weight, exercise, and eat healthy
foods. Losing seven to ten percent of your body fat can decrease your
chances of getting diabetes by 50 percent, and walking for a half hour every
day cuts your likelihood of developing diabetes by 30 percent.
Clearly, management of type 2 diabetes requires weight reduction (to a
BMI ≤ 25) and exercise, exercise, exercise! How can these factors impact
blood sugar? Exercise helps manage diabetes by lowering blood-sugar levels
(when you exercise, more glucose needs to be burned for energy). Exercise
40 / Health Issues Caused by Obesity
Research Project
Think about your family’s medical background.
Are there certain diseases or conditions, such as
diabetes or heart disease, which seem to run in
your family? Talk to your parents to see if there
are any that you did not know about. Then go online to
find out more about these medical conditions. Create a
chart that lists what doctors believe causes each condition.
How many are connected with overweight or obesity, and
is there anything you can do to lower your risks of devel-
oping these conditions?