Last Update: Saturday, March 19, 2005. 1:14am (AEDT)
New obesity link to diabetes
Health group Diabetes UK says people who are obese are up to 80 times more
likely to develop diabetes.
In Britain, which has the fastest growing rate of obesity in the developed
world, one in five adults has a serious weight problem.
Obesity is not the only risk factor for diabetes, but Diabetes UK says that
people who have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 are 10 times more
likely to develop the illness.
If their BMI is above 35 for 10 years, the risk increases to 80 times
compared to a person of average weight.
"These figures show the shocking extent to which obesity increases the risk
of diabetes," Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said.
"Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke
and blindness," he said.
"In short, obesity can take years off people's lives."
Scientists use the BMI, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by
height in metres squared, to measure weight and obesity.
A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.
In the last 22 years, obesity in Britain has nearly trebled in adult women
and almost quadrupled in men.
The rise is fuelling an increase in diabetes, which experts predict will
affect 3 million people in Britain by 2010.
Diabetes is a chronic illness caused by a deficiency or lack of insulin.
The hormone produced by the pancreas helps glucose, or sugar, from food get
into cells.
About 90 per cent of type 2, or adult onset diabetes, is linked to being
overweight or obese.
Mr Smallwood says the onset of diabetes could be delayed or prevented if
overweight and obese people make lifestyle changes and lose weight.
"It's a problem that must be tackled now," he said.
- Reuters