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The truth hurts. Americans are fat. Fatter than any other country in the world. According to Surgeon General David Satcher, 60% of Americans are overweight, and he believes that this number is going to continue to grow if appropriate actions are not taken. The number of overweight children has increased 50% in the last 15years. Unfortunately, this is a problem that expands just beyond social hindrances, because fat and especially obese people are at a much greater health risk. 300,000 people in America die each year from fat related causes. Type 2 Diabetes, a health problem which screws up the balance between insulin and something else, is largely caused by obesity, and the number of people with this disease has jumped 33% in America since 1990, with a large amount of the instances being found in adolescents. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems: · Right away, your cells may be starved for energy. · Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic! Diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives. You can too by taking good care of yourself. Is It Curable? In people with type 2 diabetes, glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood. But with treatment, your blood glucose levels may go down to normal again. But this does not mean you are cured. Instead, a blood glucose level in your target range shows that your treatment plan is working and that you are taking care of your diabetes. There are several ideas as to the cause of this problem. One popular belief is the enormous fast food industry that spreads over our nation like a greasy blanket. There are many contributing factors that contribute to being overweight. If these factors occur in children it will increase their chances of being overweight their entire lives, even if they eventually change their lifestyle. The two major factors are lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. Both of these are becoming worse and worse. The unhealthy eating as described above, and physical activity is getting worse especially in children due to an increase in the interest in videogames and television.
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