October 1, 2007

How to tell if you’re at risk

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines obesity according to body mass index (BMI), which is calculated from a person’s weight and height. If you’re an adult and your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered to be overweight. You are considered to be obese if your BMI is 30 or higher. To calculate your BMI, go to www.cdc.gov and search for “body mass index.”

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of the disease. Symptoms can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, sores that heal slowly, dry and itchy skin, tingling or loss of feeling in your feet and blurry eyesight. For more information, visit the National Diabetes Education Program at www.ndep.nih.gov.