People should monitor waistline for diabetes risk

[Photo/IC]

Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the Department of Health, released a report on Thursday containing new analysis showing adults with a large waist are five times more likely to get type 2 diabetes.

PHE said they encourage people to monitor their waistline and assess their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which has been a serious public health issue in many countries.

According to the report, men who have a large waist circumference of over 102cm are five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Women with a large waist circumference of over 88cm are three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Experts in PHE said that currently 90 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, and the prevalence of both obesity and diabetes are on the increase. Being overweight or obese is the main avoidable risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

The report also revealed that deprivation is closely linked to the risk of both obesity and diabetes in Britain, with type 2 diabetes being 40 percent more common among people in the poorest communities compared with those in the riches.

"Type 2 diabetes is a very serious public health issue which can have significant consequences, such as limb amputations or blindness." Dr. Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said.

"The key to reducing your chances of type 2 diabetes is losing weight which can be achieved through a healthy diet and being more active," she added.