| The health risks linked to obesity are clearly | | | | enough or it can't use insulin properly. Insulin is needed |
| recognized by experts and one of the most common | | | | by the body to convert sugar into energy. Type 2 is |
| of these is diabetes. Diseases caused by obesity are | | | | the most common form of diabetes in the developed |
| debilitating, even life-threatening and will result in many | | | | world and is now becoming increasingly common |
| people dying ten to twenty years earlier than they | | | | amongst younger people. Symptoms include |
| would otherwise have done. Perhaps the most | | | | excessive thirst, frequent urination and tiredness. |
| shocking aspect of this is the fact that many children | | | | Diabetes can lead to heart and kidney problems, as |
| and teenagers are becoming obese and as a result | | | | well as blindness and so it is important to make sure it |
| some of them will die before their parents. If obesity is | | | | is controlled. |
| the cause, many cases of these serious illnesses are | | | | Although the causes of diabetes are unknown, |
| preventable. | | | | scientists have established that there is a definite link |
| What exactly is diabetes and how is it related to | | | | between overeating and type 2. Therefore developing |
| obesity? | | | | a healthy eating pattern and taking sufficient exercise |
| There are two types of diabetes, the cause of Type 1 | | | | are important factors, both in prevention and disease |
| is unknown and it occurs when cells in the pancreas | | | | control. |
| which produce insulin are damaged and fail to do their | | | | Anyone who is very overweight is at risk of diabetes. |
| job. This can happen after a viral infection or if a | | | | Diseases caused by obesity can, however, be |
| person has had a severe shock. Type 2 diabetes | | | | prevented. Adults who are affected should take steps |
| generally occurs in people over 40, often with a family | | | | to reduce their weight and parents should teach their |
| history of the illness and around 80% of the people in | | | | children about the dangers and help them to develop |
| this group are overweight. In Type 2 Diabetes, the | | | | habits which will enable them to avoid these in later life. |
| body does produce insulin, but it either doesn't produce | | | | |