Nearly 34% of American adults and 17% of American children are obese—an epidemic that nearly triples the risk for type 2 diabetes. Factors that cause weight gain like a high-fat diet and a lack of exercise conspire to make your body less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that tells cells to absorb blood sugar. And over time, extra weight leads to an accumulation of body fat inside your abdomen. This “active” fat deep in your torso pumps out compounds that boost inflammation and further reduce insulin sensitivity. The good news? Losing as little as 10 to 15 pounds can reduce “ab fat” and lower your risk for diabetes significantly.

• Experts say waist size may matter more than weight when it comes to diabetes risk. Risk rises with a waist over 35 inches for women, 40 for men.
• Half of all Americans may have “normal weight obesity”—a healthy body weight but dangerously high levels of body fat.
• Losing a little bit of weight can shrink “ab fat” significantly. In one study, a 3% weight loss led to a 12% drop in deep belly fat.
• Childhood obesity has doubled diabetes rates among children and tripled rates among teens.
• At least 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or clinically obese (meaning it’s considered a serious health condition).

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