Obesity puts people at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure

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Obesity continues to become more common worldwide, despite the health risks and increased mortality posed by the diseases and conditions that accompany it (comorbidities).

Obesity can cause complications in numerous diseases, shortens healthy life expectancy and reduces the quality of life.

Diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are common obesity-related conditions that cause the arteries to harden (arteriosclerosis), which is linked to the development of life-threatening conditions such as strokes and heart disease.

In a study from Kobe University, scientists found that obesity puts people at higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.

They found how the level of obesity affects the prevalence of the three most common comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol problems) in men and women differently.

The team used data from 11,000 65-year-old Japanese residents of Kobe City.

They found the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure strongly increased the more obese the patient was.

On the other hand, the incidence of blood cholesterol problems was high even among those of normal weight and increased gradually alongside the degree of obesity.

In men, increased obesity led to a similarly elevated risk of having each of the three diseases.

Even though increased obesity strongly increased the risk of diabetes and hypertension in women, the risk of having cholesterol problems increased gradually, peaking in slightly obese individuals.

The results suggest that weight loss is effective in reducing diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood cholesterol problems in men and diabetes and high blood pressure in women.

However, merely losing weight is not enough to reduce blood cholesterol problems in women.

This study highlights the importance of understanding exactly how obesity affects the f accompanying diseases in different ethnic groups and genders so that more appropriate guidance and treatment can be given to patients.

If you care about diabetes, please read studies that flaxseed oil is more beneficial than fish oil to people with diabetes, and Stanford study finds drug that prevents kidney failure in diabetes.

If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.

The study was conducted by Professor Tamori Yoshikazu et al and published in Scientific Reports.

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