Diabetes Overview
Help Prevent Diabetes, Treat Obesity
Healthy weight management can help prevent and even reverse diabetes and most importantly leads to better health for those with or at risk for diabetes.
Treat Obesity Like the Chronic Disease it Is
Obesity is a common, chronic, and progressive disease with many medical, physical, and psychosocial issues, including a significant increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Over 85 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have overweight or obesity.
Research shows people with type 1 diabetes are also at a growing risk for obesity and related health conditions. Obesity is linked to heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Across the United States, obesity trends are on the rise for children and adults with almost 20 percent of children and adolescents and over 40 percent adults having obesity.
The ADA's <em>Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023</em>
In people with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, modest weight loss improves glycemia and reduces the need for glucose-lowering medications. Larger weight loss substantially reduces A1C and fasting glucose and has been shown to promote sustained diabetes remission through at least two years. Several modalities, including intensive behavioral counseling, obesity pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery, may aid in achieving and maintaining meaningful weight loss and reducing obesity-associated health risks.
ADA-Funded Obesity Research
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ADA is pleased to be partnering to fight for access to person-centered treatment for the chronic disease of obesity. Thank you to our partners.
