Waist size increases diabetes risk

A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition determined a simple measure for estimating diabetes risk, based on waist size (rather than body-mass or overall weight). Type 2 diabetes risk rose progressively as waist size climbed above 34 inches:

A waist size of 34 to 36 doubled diabetes risk.
A waist size of 36 to 38 inches nearly tripled the risk.
A waist size of 38 to 40 inches was associated with five times the risk.
A waist size of 40 to 62 inches was associated with 12 times the risk.

One of the biggest challenges for diabetics is avoiding sugary foods. Think of the social aspects of eating dessert. Not only are desserts yummy; the end-of-meal ritual, the cake at parties, and other ways we use sweets as social bonding time can make staying on the diabetic diet really difficult. I remember seeing my father continue to eat ice cream (and worse); today he is missing parts of his foot because of diabetic disease progression.

The emotional aspects of eating are what keep us from being able to make healthy choices. I know; I’m not pointing fingers at Dad when I know how challenging it is when you don’t have a tool like EFT to help. If you are interesting in losing weight to control diabetes, reduce your risk factors (and waist size!), and just feel better, you might consider listening to Dr. Carol Look’s Weight Loss with EFT 5-session MP3 recordings or CD’s.

I also work with individuals in person and by phone who recognize that there are certain situations and certain foods that make it difficult to stay focused on healthy foods. With EFT you can be empowered to make dietary changes without nearly the strain or need for WILLPOWER that other approaches require.

SOURCE: Wang, Y. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2005; vol 81: pp 555-563.