Are we really facing an obesity 'epidemic'?

[TrekMad]

I know exactly where you're coming from : a population that is in control of its weight and lifestyle will demand more control over every aspect of their lives. A lumpen, listless, feckless populi, enured to greed and over satiating itself will simply sit back on the couch and say 'whatever' to.what brand of outrageous legislation is passed next.

Youd think maybe they were actively enthusiastic about reduced mortality rates and less active populations... Cynical, who me?

[661-Pete]

In the news today,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34259221
a three-year-old diagnosed with type 2 diabetes . In USA (not surprisingly) but it could have happened anywhere. In Britain next?

Where is this taking us? What next?

I suppose it's easy for an obesity-denier to claim "it's not as dangerous as smoking", whilst a smoking-denier says "it's not as dangerous as alcohol", and of course the alcohol-denier will chime in with "it's not as dangerous as obesity". So we go round in circles. All three are dangerous, we might as well face up to it. And the cost to the economy is astronomical.

[Mick F]

Is Type2 diabetes curable?
If you lose weight, can you beat the diabetes?

[horizon]

Is Type2 diabetes curable?
If you lose weight, can you beat the diabetes?

Yes and no according to all the various (sloppy?) news reports.

[David881]

An epidemic is a rapid spread of an infectious disease. Obesity is not an infectious disease, so whatever we are facing it is not an epidemic.

Many have posted comments that suggest that a reduced level of exercise has led to to the increase in obesity, and whilst that may be a factor, I believe that a more significant cause will be the growth in the consumption of processed foods, ready meals, etc. Many of these products have poor nutritional levels and relatively high proportions of sugar and fats.

[Manc33]

2 year olds with diabetes?

What next?

8 year olds playing Bingo?
9 year olds going into retirement homes?
10 year olds getting a telegram from The Queen?

[TonyR]

An epidemic is a rapid spread of an infectious disease. Obesity is not an infectious disease, so whatever we are facing it is not an epidemic.

Not true. Check the OED. Obesity epidemic is a perfectly valid use of the word,

Many have posted comments that suggest that a reduced level of exercise has led to to the increase in obesity, and whilst that may be a factor, I believe that a more significant cause will be the growth in the consumption of processed foods, ready meals, etc. Many of these products have poor nutritional levels and relatively high proportions of sugar and fats.

There has been shown to be a strong inverse correlation between "active transport" i.e walking, cycling, and obesity.

[Mick F]

epidemic |ɛpɪˈdɛmɪk|
noun
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic.
• a sudden, widespread occurrence of an undesirable phenomenon: an epidemic of violent crime.

[AlanJ]

Is Type2 diabetes curable?
If you lose weight, can you beat the diabetes?

It can be controlled purely by diet, whether that can be classed as "cured" I don't know. My GP said the new way of looking at things has increased the number of false positives which doesn't help

[Mick F]

There's an absolute slob we know locally. Fat and ever-so-slobby, and complains about his knees and his diabetes. Drives everywhere, never walks.
If he were to lose 10st, maybe his knees would be ok and his diabetes would disappear.

Therefore, his bad knees would be cured and so would his diabetes?
Controlled with diet?
More like controlled BY diet.

[661-Pete]

My GP said the new way of looking at things has increased the number of false positives which doesn't help

Does that (i.e. false positives) include HbA1c (whatever that stands for ) measurement from fasting blood test? I ask because that's the criteria upon which I have been told I'm in the pre-diabetic category. I'm hoping to get out of it though...

[al_yrpal]

Is Type2 diabetes curable?
If you lose weight, can you beat the diabetes?

It can be controlled purely by diet, whether that can be classed as "cured" I don't know. My GP said the new way of looking at things has increased the number of false positives which doesn't help

When I lost 48lbs last year my type 2 diabetes was cured. In September last year my GP looked at my bloods from the previous April and said I had cured it and could stop taking any tablets. Its cured, but only so long as I maintain my weight loss and exercise. I think a more accurate description is that its controlled. I still have an annual check on my bloods.

Al

[PhilWhitehurst]

It's all to do with the amount of fat in the pancreas. There was a medical paper on just this topic last week.

[rmurphy195]

No, we are not facing such an epidemic - i's already here. Forget the statistics, just walk along any high street and look around you.

[Heltor Chasca]

No, we are not facing such an epidemic - i's already here. Forget the statistics, just walk along any high street and look around you.

+1 or get on a ferry back from the Netherlands and you can segregate the nationalities by sight or what's on their plate in the restaurant.

Also, stop being so polite and saying things like 'big' or 'large'. Fat or obese is more appropriate and will get some social action.