2024 Volume 77 Issue 6 Pages 377-385
Non-communicable metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are associated with a number of serious complications, which have an adverse impact on healthy life expectancy. Since both genetics and lifestyle are involved, evidence-based measures derived from large-scale studies of various racial and regional populations are required. Some large-scale data analyses of Japanese subjects have revealed the complex relationship between obesity and the onset, remission, and prognosis of diabetes. In particular, even mild obesity is known to increase the risk of developing diabetes, thinness increases the rate of mortality in elderly patients, and weight loss contributes to diabetes remission in middle-aged obese diabetic patients. In terms of diet for diabetes, we have demonstrated the relationship between the intake ratio of carbohydrates and protein, salt intake, and the intake of vegetables, fruits, and dietary fiber and the risk of complications, and also revealed the benefits of applying these findings clinically, including supplementary exercise therapy and the use of ICT technology. It is expected that such efforts in nutritional epidemiology based on scientific data will lead to more effective dietary therapy in the future.
