Which of the following conditions may increase the risk of developing diverticulitis?

The development of diverticulitis is influenced by several risk factors, including obesity, which is recognized as a significant contributor to the condition. Obesity can lead to increased intra-abdominal pressure and alterations in intestinal motility, both of which may predispose individuals to the formation of diverticula in the colon. These diverticula can become inflamed or infected, leading to diverticulitis.

While hypertension and diabetes are also important health conditions, their direct correlation with diverticulitis is less clear compared to obesity. Hypertension has been studied in relation to overall cardiovascular health and may have some indirect associations with diverticular disease, but it is not as strongly linked as obesity. Diabetes can impact gut health and immune response but does not have a well-established direct link to the increased risk of diverticulitis.

In summary, obesity's straightforward connection to the pathophysiology of diverticulitis makes it a more recognized risk factor, while hypertension and diabetes do not carry the same level of association. Therefore, the correct focus on obesity captures a significant aspect of what increases the risk of developing diverticulitis.