[Obesity, type 2 diabetes and their quantitative relation]

Diabetes type 2 and obesity are diseases which have marked mutual relations. The pathogenesis of these relations is in many respects obscure. Also the molecular biological knowledge of the two diseases is inadequate so far. In the submitted brief paper the authors present only a review of some quantitative aspects of the relationship of obesity and diabetes supplemented by some of their own results. The authors summarize the epidemiological relations of diabetes and obesity, possible prediction of the development of diabetes in obese subjects, possible prevention of diabetes in obese subjects and possible treatment of obese diabetics. Slight weight reduction, e.g. by using modern anti-obesity drugs is of fundamental importance for reducing the incidence of diabetes and for its treatment. Based on their own experience the authors present their own results of cluster and factor analysis for evaluating the links between diabetes and obesity with the metabolic syndrome. The authors' work similarly as work quoted in the discussion indicate that diabetes as well as obesity are beyond the so-called nucleus of the metabolic syndrome. Even slight body weight reduction by 5-10%, within the reach of everybody, influences in a fundamental way the incidence and compensation of diabetes as well as other components of the metabolic syndrome.