Diabetes is a disease that is generally identified with obesity. The fact is that this chronic disease can also occur in people who have ideal body weight. Why do people with normal weight get diabetes? Check out the full explanation below.
Causes of Normal Weight Get Diabetes
Many people think that a thin body is healthier than people who are overweight and have a minimal risk of developing diabetes. In fact, people with normal weight or thin can also get diabetes.
Please note, diabetes itself is not related to body appearance (weight). Diabetes stems from insulin resistance which increases blood sugar levels.
One of the reasons thin people get diabetes is a condition known asskinny fat’. People with this condition tend to have a type of fat called visceral fat. This fat develops around the organs, not under the skin so it won’t show through.
In the medical world, this condition is called metabolic obesity with normal body weight (MONW). People with MONW may appear healthy but are at risk for conditions such as diabetes.
It should also be noted, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and this condition is not related to weight.
But research shows that 1 in 5 adults with normal weight can be at risk of developing prediabetes—which, if left untreated, can develop into type 2 diabetes—within five years.
Therefore, it is very important to see a doctor immediately if you have symptoms of prediabetes.
Also Read: Why Can Diabetics Lose Weight Drastically?
Conditions That Increase Normal Body Weight Get Diabetes
Not only due to visceral fat, there are several causes of diabetes in people with ideal or thin body weight, including:
1. Diets
Diet is an important factor that can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Too high sugar intake and unhealthy fats can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
2. Sedentary Lifestyle
It is a lifestyle associated with prolonged sitting and little physical movement. One example is sitting too long.
Sitting for a long time can change the body’s metabolism, for example in workers who focus too long at the computer. This condition can cause insulin resistance, a factor that increases the risk of developing diabetes.
3. Prediabetes
Having blood sugar levels that are higher than the normal range can lead to prediabetes. If not treated immediately, it may develop into type 2 diabetes.
4. Stress
When stressed, the body will release a chemical called cortisol. The hormone cortisol can trigger a response fight-or-flight, namely the body’s response mechanism when facing stress by fighting (flight) or run (flight).
5. Fatty Liver
This condition can put a person at risk of developing diabetes. Please note, this disease has two types: first, the primary type due to excessive alcohol consumption. Second, non-alcoholic fatty liver caused by fat accumulation in the liver.
- Anonymous. The Skinny On Diabetes Risk. https://www.sjchs.org/smart-living-home/fall-2019/diabetes-risk-factors 9Accessed January 16, 20230. (Accessed January 16)
- Anonymous. 2022. Yes, thin people can get Type 2 diabetes. https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2018/03/05/21/59/yes-thin-people-can-get-type-2-diabetes. (Accessed January 16)
- Holland, Kimberly. 2019. Diabetes Diagnosis: Does Weight Matter?. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/can-skinny-people-get-diabetes. (Accessed January 16)
- LeWine, Howard E. 2012. Diabetes can strike—hard—even when weight is normal. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diabetes-can-strike-hard-even-when-weight-is-normal-201208085121. (Accessed January 16)
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