Ahh, statistics. How do the 55% or 85% numbers compare with the population as a whole? Is it a significant increase? Is there evidence of a statistically significant correlation between obesity and being overweight? Are there any factors that might be involved that are also correlated with obesity but that might be the true cause?
PS - Study recommends a ketogenic diet which I am very much in favor for. It has done wonders for me (ymmv). But I am still on the fence about being "overweight" being a direct cause of diabetes and not an effect.
Metabolic syndrome includes obesity and diabetes along with heart disease, cancer, and a few other conditions. It is not a cause but rather the result.
I interpreted "even a modest weight loss has been reported to substantially decrease the diabetic risk" as causation. But you are right, he did not say it directly.
PS - Study recommends a ketogenic diet which I am very much in favor for. It has done wonders for me (ymmv). But I am still on the fence about being "overweight" being a direct cause of diabetes and not an effect.