Question: I read so much about type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes being associated with obesity. About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, I weigh just 98 pounds and am five feet tall with a small frame. My age is 80 and I'm still very active. Can you explain why I developed type 2 diabetes?
Answer: Clearly, obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Eight-five percent of those who have developed diabetes are overweight or obese. Surprisingly though, 12 to 15 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes are of normal weight - sometimes even skinny. An article in the Aug. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association described a retrospective analysis of 2,625 people identified with type 2 diabetes that found 12 percent were of normal body weight (with a body mass index of less than 25).
