Obesity and type 2 diabetes

Summary The rise in obesity – and specifically abdominal obesity – is driving the global increase in type 2 diabetes. Excess visceral fat, the causative factor behind abdominal obesity, is closely linked with β‐cell dysfunction and insulin resistance, two of the key components of type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. Attempts to curb the current abdominal obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics will require a government‐led public health approach, in tandem with a personal approach aimed at helping abdominally obese individuals reduce their cardiovascular and metabolic (cardiometabolic) risk profile.