Main points
Trend of BMI
Relationship between BMI and diabetes rates
Prevalence of diabetes
Australia is facing a crisis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Background
A demon named diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and finally leads to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and foot ulcers.
Introduction
Overweight is the next epidemiological challenge nowadays. The prevalence of overweight leads to an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Trend of BMI
The incidence of overweight has risen in Australia over the past 40 years and reach to overweight level (Mean BMI greater than or equal to 25) since 1982 for men and 1992 for women. And, recently the Mean BMI reaches around 27.5 and 26.6 respectively for men and women.
Relationship between BMI and diabetes rates
This chart shows the diabetes rate and the mean BMI from 2001 to 2015 and obiously overweight is highly associated with a higher incidence of diabetes. The following chart shows the linear relationship between BMI and diabetes rates for both men and women. The positive linear model indicates that BMI and diabetes rates go hand-by-hand. The bigger the BMI, the higher the diabetes rate.
Prevalence of diabetes
Based on the data of prevalence for diabetes in 2020, the majority of patients with T2DM (Type II diabetes mellitus) are overweight. Around 70% and 60% of the patient with T2DM are overweight for men and women respectively.
Recommendation
Based on the instruction of WHO (World Health Organization), the following ponits are the methods to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
- A healthy diet
- Regular physical activity
- Maintaining body weight
- Avoiding tobacco
References
Academic articles:
World Health Organization, 8 June 2020, Diabetes, viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
J P H Wilding, 18 Feb 2014, The importance of weight management in type 2 diabetes mellitus, viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4238418/#:~:text=Background,morbidity%20and%20mortality%20in%20T2DM
Ryan T. Hurt, Christopher Kulisek, Laura A. Buchanan, and Stephen A. McClave, Dec 2010, The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges, Health Initiatives, and Implications for Gastroenterologists, viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3033553/#:~:text=The%20incidence%20of%20obesity%20has%20doubled%20in%20the%20United%20States,the%20adult%20population%20currently%20obese.&text=Perhaps%20more%20alarming%20is%20the,from%206%25%20to%2019%25
Data source:
World Health Organization, 27 September 2017, Mean BMI (kg/m2) (age-standardized estimate), viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/mean-bmi-(kg-m-)-(age-standardized-estimate)
World Health Organization, 2016, World Health Organization – Diabetes country profiles, viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.who.int/diabetes/country-profiles/aus_en.pdf?ua=1
Australian Insititute of Health and Welfare, 15 Jul 2020, Data tables: Diabetes 2020, viewed on 31 October 2020 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/diabetes/data
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