Final answer:
Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, not type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is often the result of lifestyle factors and obesity, while type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response that is not related to obesity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Obesity predisposes a person to develop type 1 diabetes mellitus.' is false. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, not type 1. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin due to factors such as poor diet, inactivity, and being overweight or obese. In contrast, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and it is not caused by lifestyle factors such as obesity. Understanding the difference between these two types of diabetes is crucial for the prevention and management of the disease.
About 90% of all diabetes cases are type 2, which develops mainly in adults but is increasingly seen in children and adolescents due to rising obesity rates. While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and kidney disease, they have different causes and risk factors.