More than 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Obesity causes insulin resistance and is therefore a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

So, here is a brief overview of  just how it happens. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas allows glucose to enter body cells were it can be used for energy or stored for later use. In insulin resistance the body is unable to use insulin properly. Research shows that the greater the degree of obesity the greater the degree of not only insulin resistance, but high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels. This can ultimately lead to diabetes, stroke and heart disease. A study of African-American type 2 diabetes patients published in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism provides further proof that diabetes is a weighty issue.

This is an even greater problem for African Americans who are often wrong when it comes to perceptions of body weight. In a recent survey, more than half the overweight and about a quarter of the obese African Americans believed that they were of normal weight. I often hear my African American patients describe themselves as “thick” or “big-boned,” when in fact they are clearly overweight or obese.  And… if you don’t think you have a weight problem, then of course you’re not going to try and change it, which of course put’s your health at greater risk.

So if you who think you are “thick” or big-boned” click here and calculate your BMI to find out what shape you are really in.  Body Mass Index (BMI) helps to assess your weight and risk for disease. It is a measure of your weight in relation to your height and is used as an estimate of your body fat. BMI combined with a waist measurement will tell you your risk for developing other obesity-associated diseases. You see, where fat is located actually matters. If your fat is located in the abdominal area, or you are shaped like an apple, you are at greater risk for heart disease. If you are shaped like a pear and your fat is located in the hips and thighs, your risk for heart disease is less.

If you need to lose weight don’t get all bent out of shape (no pun intended) over how much. The good news here is that losing as little as 10 – 15 pounds can put you on the road to improved health.

To get more help losing weight and assessing your health risk, see a Registered Dietitian (RD) in your area.