Hey there, fellow social media brethren! today, I want to discuss a topic that hits close to home for many of us: the pot belly. Ever find yourself wondering why it seems like such a prevalent issue, especially here in our region? Well, I'm here to tell you, that it's not entirely your fault. In fact, after unpacking this, you might just find yourself pointing fingers at the British!
So, what's the deal with the distinctive pot belly that seems to be a trademark of Indian, Bangladeshi, and South Asian folks? And why do we seem to have a disproportionately high number of diabetic patients in our midst?
Here's where it gets really interesting. All these physical quirks can actually be traced back to a significant event: the famine that ravaged our lands during the British Raj of 1877. Yes, that's right. That moment in history left such an indelible mark on our DNA that it changed the way our bodies function.
Our ancestors faced the constant threat of starvation, unsure if they'd have enough to eat from one day to the next. In response to this chronic uncertainty, our bodies evolved to store more fat, particularly around the belly area, as a survival mechanism. Fast forward to today, with the proliferation of fast food and high-calorie diets, and you've got a recipe for, well, a lot more pot-bellies than your average population.
There's more! That same genetic predisposition to store fat also plays a significant role in the alarming rise of diabetes among our people. Combine our carb-heavy diets with our bodies' natural inclination to hoard fat, and you've got a perfect storm brewing.
This is an interesting concept but it is not based on any research though. These physical attributes that we have can be attributed to a combination of biological and lifestyle factors. South Asians are predisposed to diabetes due to factors such as increased insulin resistance, higher visceral adiposity, impaired β-cell function, and certain genetic polymorphisms.
Additionally, South Asians have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, even at a lower BMI, which is hypothesized to be due to reduced beta cell function, impaired insulin action owing to low lean mass, and ectopic fat deposition in the liver and muscle.
Furthermore, South Asians have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes due to factors such as higher levels of refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and trans fats in their diet, as well as lower physical activity levels compared to other ethnic groups. It's also important to note that South Asians are up to four times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than people of other ethnic backgrounds, even if they are not overweight. Additionally, research suggests that South Asians have low lean tissue mass relative to height, which contributes to their elevated type 2 diabetes susceptibility.
So this is not solely the fault of the British, while the historical event may have had an impact on genetic predispositions, our own diet, and lifestyle factors also contribute to this body type, and risk of diabetes.
So, next time you find yourself lamenting that stubborn pot belly or grappling with diabetes, just remember, you can still partially blame it on history – specifically, the British Raj, which I do now!
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