The emergence of obesity in type 1 diabetes
Obesity, a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease represented by multifactorial metabolic dysfunctions, is a significant global health threat for adults and children. The once-held belief that type 1 diabetes is a disease of people who are lean no longer holds. The mounting epidemiological data now establishes the connection between type 1 diabetes and the subsequent development of obesity, or vice versa. Beyond the consequences of the influx of an obesogenic environment, type 1 diabetes-specific biopsychosocial burden further exacerbates obesity. In the course of obesity management discussions, recurring challenges surfaced. The interplay between weight gain and escalating insulin dependence creates a vicious cycle from which patients struggle to break free. In the absence of weight management guidelines and regulatory approval for this population, healthcare professionals must navigate the delicate balance between benefits and risks. The gravity of this circumstance highlights the importance of bringing these topics to the forefront. In this Review, we discuss the changing trends and the biopsychosocial aspects of the intersection between type 1 diabetes and obesity. We highlight the evidence supporting the therapeutic means (i.e., exercise therapy, nutritional therapy, adjunct pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery) and directions for establishing a more robust and safer evidence-based approach.
Funding
Innovative Medicines Initiative 2. grant agreement No. 875534.
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
EFPIA
T1D Exchange
JDRF
Obesity Action Coalition
History
Comments
The original article is available at https://www.nature.com/Published Citation
Kueh MTW, Chew NWS, Al-Ozairi E, le Roux CW. The emergence of obesity in type 1 diabetes. Int J Obes (Lond). 2023Publication Date
14 December 2023External DOI
PubMed ID
38092958Department/Unit
- RCSI + UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC)
Publisher
Springer Nature LimitedVersion
- Published Version (Version of Record)