About 90 percent of the 10.3 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Another 5.4 million are believed to have type 2 diabetes, but remain undiagnosed. 10 Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes, and it's especially dangerous for women. Obese men are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than are normal weight men, but obese women are eight times more likely to develop it. 11 Heart disease is the leading cause of death in more than half of diabetic patients.
Thousands more suffer debilitating congestive heart failure and angina.
Not only does diabetes damage the cardiovascular system, but the kidneys and eyes also are hit hard. Yet, for millions of people, diabetes can be delayed or controlled by maintaining a healthy weight. Certain cancers closely correlate with increased weight. Cancer of the colon, rectum and prostate are more common in overweight men. For women, it's cancer of the uterus, biliary tract, breast and ovary.