Monday, July 15, 2013
Diabetes study identifies new weight-loss benefits
Heavy people with Type 2 diabetes who lose a modest amount of weight and keep it off get many long-term health benefits, including reduced risk of chronic kidney disease, depression and eye disease, a landmark study has found. They also have better blood sugar control, better quality of life, fewer hospitalizations and take less medication, which reduces medical costs.
The weight loss, however, doesn’t lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
“Weight loss is still important, but the reasons why it is important are different than we thought,” says study chairwoman Rena Wing, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. Wing and other investigators presented their findings this summer at the American Diabetes Association’s annual scientific meeting in Chicago.
“Other short-term studies have shown the benefits of weight loss (for people with diabetes), but this is the first large, long-term trial examining a diverse set of health benefits,” says Tim Church, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.
Almost 26 million U.S. children and adults have diabetes. There are two major forms: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of cases. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, foot and leg amputations and blindness.
Full news story: freep.com
The weight loss, however, doesn’t lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
“Weight loss is still important, but the reasons why it is important are different than we thought,” says study chairwoman Rena Wing, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. Wing and other investigators presented their findings this summer at the American Diabetes Association’s annual scientific meeting in Chicago.
“Other short-term studies have shown the benefits of weight loss (for people with diabetes), but this is the first large, long-term trial examining a diverse set of health benefits,” says Tim Church, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.
Almost 26 million U.S. children and adults have diabetes. There are two major forms: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of cases. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, foot and leg amputations and blindness.
Full news story: freep.com
Labels: Diabetes
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