This study investigates several metabolic disorders related to an unhealthy life style causing obesity, hypertension, and atherosclerosis as well as many other underlining chronic issues like diabetes. All of these diseases are related to one another ultimately causing system failures affecting the kidneys, heart, liver and pancreas.
The paper explores the topic of obesity and how insulin resistance and leptin receptors both contribute to the cause of obesity. This condition has been caused by environmental factors like over eating of fatting foods, laziness and an overall unhealthy life style. Another factor involved in obesity is genetics but plays a limited role in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is the most common form of diabetes affecting a vast array of people across the U.S. Listed below is some statistics taken from the American Diabetes Association web page [http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/].
Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (released Jan. 26, 2011)
Total prevalence of diabetes
Total: 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes.
Diagnosed: 18.8 million people
Undiagnosed: 7.0 million people
Prediabetes: 79 million people
New Cases: 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.
Under 20 years of age
- 215,000, or 0.26% of all people in this age group have diabetes
- About 1 in every 400 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes
Age 20 years or older
- 25.6 million, or 11.3% of all people in this age group have diabetes
Age 65 years or older
- 10.9 million, or 26.9% of all people in this age group have diabetes
Men
- 13.0 million, or 11.8% of all men aged 20 years or older have diabetes
Women
- 12.6 million, or 10.8% of all women aged 20 years or older have diabetes
The authors explain that Leptin, an adipostatic hormone secreted by stores of adipose tissue, plays a crucial role in controlling food intake by inhibiting receptors in the hypothalamus causing one’s appetite to be deactivated, in turn causing body weight to be controlled. But in the case of obese people this hormone’s receptors are less sensitive and therefore high levels of leptin are circulating throughout the systemic circulation not doing its job. As obese people continue to eat high fattening foods the feedback switch is not being activated to tell the body to stop eating causing an accumulation of unwanted body fat.
The authors explain that over eating and gaining large amounts of weight generates insulin resistance but having a restricted caloric diet can reverse this affect. When not controlled type 2 diabetes is eminent. If the condition turns acute the patient may become insulin dependent due to beta cell failure.
The paper talks about how adipocytes are responsible for numerous metabolic affects involving obesity and insulin resistance. These cells release free fatty acids found in the liver and muscles of the body and is known by lipotoxicity (high amounts of lipids in blood). Adipocytes also release adiponectin which increase insulin sensitivity, this hormone is found to be much less in obese individuals than people that are in good shape. Resistin also is derived from adipocytes found in the liver known to contribute to insulin resistance. Adipocytes also secrete many other hormones that play a role in obesity/diabetes including IL-6,IL-1B and TNF-alpha all of which induce insulin resistance.
I can see how having an unhealthy life style and poor eating habits leads to major metabolic problems like being insulin resistant and obese to acquiring hypertension/atherosclerosis and other physiological issues. In today’s society there is a major concern for the younger generation and how fast foods are contributing to obesity.
I just read that Colorado, the slimest state, just reached 20% obesity. That's 2 in every 5 people! The most obese state, West Virginia, is at about 1 in every 3 people. West Virginia also has some of the countries most economically deprived communities. I think economics is a huge part of the issue since many unhealthy foods tend to cost a lot less than healthier alternatives.
ReplyDeleteHey Rick, I think you mean 1 in 5 people not 2 in 5. I totally agree with all of you in that fast food plays a huge role in contributing to obesity; however, I feel people fail to mention the fact that our society is designed around the automobile and everything you do requires some sort of motive of transportation. For the sake of convenience we drive to where we need to go instead of walking or biking. Those of you who may say that the distance is too great can blame the poor design of the landscape, which is a result of the influence from car companies.
ReplyDeleteDid you know in the 1920s residential areas looked completely different than today. Trollies were placed to help facilitate people to go place to place, but GM bought out the trolly companies and dismantled them. They in turn pushed to build more roads. Thanks GM for all your wonderful contributions to society and the environment!
My bad. It is 1 in 5. It is still troubling none the less. The Discovery Channel's web network has a daily newsletter called Tree Hugger which is where I read about the new rankings. They frequently have articles on designing better communities both for the enviroment and our own health.
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