Obesity and heart disease

Obesity and heart disease are the biggest healthcare issues in the USA, where two thirds of the population are overweight or obese. Largely as a consequence, diabetes now affects 24 million Americans, with an additional 25 million afflicted by heart disease.

Globally, about 200 million people have diabetes mellitus and the WHO projection is that this will increase to 333 million by the year 2020. Each year 3.2 million people die from this disease.

 

Metabolic syndrome

The development of full diabetes is generally preceded by a period characterized by impaired insulin control of glucose levels (metabolic syndrome). It is estimated that the number of individuals worldwide with impaired glucose tolerance is about 314 million.

Insulin resistance may be present in 25% of the non-diabetic population, with an estimated conversion rate from an insulin resistant state to type 2 diabetes of 2-12% per year.