Effect of lifestyle factors on exercise, nutrition and obesity
Cardiovascular disease
The medical term for being very overweight, owing to the excessive accumulation of body fat. leads to high The force of blood against the artery walls. and the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, which lead to Relating to the heart and the blood vessels. disease. It also increases the likelihood of developing A serious disease in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar., another risk factor cardiovascular disease.
Being obese - with deposits of Fat or oils, composed of fatty acids and glycerol. in the abdomen - increases blood pressure beyond normal levels and increases levels of blood lipids.
Type 2 diabetes
Body fat also affects the body's ability to use A hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and can be produced by genetically modified bacteria..
Type 2 diabetes is where the body's cells lose their sensitivity to insulin - they no longer respond, or respond less effectively, to the insulin that's produced.
Obesity accounts for 80 to 85% of the risk of type 2 diabetes. Rising obesity is linked with 'western diet' - a diet that includes energy-rich 'fast foods' and an inactive lifestyle.
The bar charts show the increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes associated with people's Body Mass Index, calculated by dividing a person's mass (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres)..
There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but it may be possible to control it by diet and exercise.
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes can be reduced by eating a balanced diet, with unrefined, unprocessed, 'whole foods', and taking regular exercise.
