Fighting obesity is key to preventing type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (DM2) already affects 12% of the Spanish population and, according to Dr. Santiago Durán García, a specialist in Endocrinology and Nutrition, the only effective way to prevent it is by combating overweight and obesity, present in up to 80% of diagnosed cases.

During the fourth conference of the “MAS Food and Health” Chair, held at the Center for Sustainable Development Goals Activities, Professor Durán —professor of Endocrinology and Nutrition and recipient of the Lifetime Scientific Achievement Medal from the Spanish Diabetes Society— reviewed the most recent advances in the understanding and treatment of this chronic metabolic disease, which is one of the main causes of cardiovascular and renal complications. “Effective treatment of type 2 diabetes involves combating obesity, improving glycemic control, and preventing associated complications,” emphasized Dr. Durán, highlighting that prevention based on healthy eating and regular physical activity remains the fundamental pillar in the fight against DM2.

The specialist also highlighted the pharmacological and technological advances that are transforming diabetes management: from new drugs with cardiovascular benefits to continuous glucose monitoring systems, which allow for more precise control and a better quality of life for patients. “We are experiencing a promising horizon that is changing the natural history of type 2 diabetes, increasing the survival of individuals and avoiding premature complications and deaths,” he stated.

Uniting Science and Social Commitment

The event featured a speech by Vicente Martín González, president of the MAS Foundation, who noted that more than five million adults live with diabetes in Spain, placing the country among the top five in Europe in prevalence and representing a healthcare cost of over 14 million euros annually. “Prevention, education, physical exercise, and healthy eating are the most powerful tools to improve people's lives. At the Foundation, we work to ensure this message reaches all of society,” highlighted Martín González.

Furthermore, the president of the MAS Foundation valued the collaboration with the Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery of Seville (RAMSE), “the oldest in the world in the field of medicine,” and noted that this alliance “allows combining scientific excellence with social commitment”.

Evidence-Based Promotion

Established in 2024, the “MAS Food and Health” Chair aims to promote healthy lifestyle habits, disseminate scientific knowledge about nutrition, and raise awareness about the prevention of diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The Chair's activities include conferences and workshops led by experts in medicine and nutrition, aimed at all audiences.

With initiatives like this, the MAS Foundation reinforces its line of work in the field of Healthy Living, launched in 2013, focused on food care, improving well-being, and reducing chronic diseases among the Andalusian population.