Exactly how obesity causes diabetes is still being investigated with great promise. Recent statistics show that about 90% of international cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed in patients who are overweight. Furthermore, scientist have begun to notice an increasing trend of both obesity and noncommunicable diseases in the developing world, particularly middle income countries such as Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Within this group obesity was listed as the fifth greatest medical expenditure after underweight. Rising rates of obesity are particularly seen in urban areas where traditional ways of life and diet are left in preference of Western customs and diet. The paradox of some families where children are underweight and parents are overweight is attributed to intrauterine growth retardation, causing low birth weight that can lead to obesity later in life due to the “thrifty” phenotype that, when accompanied by rapid childhood weight gain contributes to insulin …

The idea that obesity causes diabetes is technically inaccurate though the link between the two is a frequent topic of research. Obesity is the greatest risk factor in the development of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes (adult on-set) however, not every individual that is over weight or obese will develop diabetes and vice versa. Rather, it seems the state of being obese weakens all the body’s systems leading to a myriad of disease and syndromes including diabetes.  The main causes behind obesity are lifestyle choices. Individuals, who have diets high in processed or fast food, low fruits, vegetable, and whole grains, consume large amounts of alcohol, eat out frequently, eat large portions, and eat in response to emotion rather than hunger are likely to become over weight, and without changes, obese. For this reason childhood obesity is becoming more prevalent as children learn unhealthy habits from family members. Genes can …