|Factors Hit Life Expectancy
Obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes,
affects 300 million people in the world and
about 194 million people suffer from
diabetes. By 2005, the number of obese
people may soar to 333 million. Professor
Claude Bouchard, International Society for
the Study of Obesity, suspected that within a
short period of time we would see a
reduction in life expectancy because of the
twin epidemics (obesity and diabetes).
Obesity/Diabetes Could Hit Life
Expectancy-Experts, by Patricia Reaney, Reuters,
May 28 2004
Fast foods are generally high in salt, fat,
and refined carbohydrates. People who
frequently eat fast food are more likely to
gain more weight and develop insulin
resistance. Insulin is produced in the
pancreas and released in response to
spikes in blood glucose that occur after
eating sweets or other carbohydrates.
Normally, insulin stimulates cells to take up
and utilize glucose. However, in insulin
resistance, the body's cells do not respond
sufficiently to insulin, thus, more insulin are
required to bring down the glucose level.
Consequently, people suffered from type II
diabetes have chronically high insulin and
blood glucose levels.
The Lancet 2005; 365; 36-42.
(Data are for U.S. for year indicated)
Number of deaths for leading causes of
Heart disease: 652,091
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809
Alzheimer's disease: 71,599
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and
Source: Deaths: CDC.gov Final Data for
2005, Table C