Diabetes risk linked to larger waist sizes

Researchers say that while people who are overweight but “pear-shaped” have a relatively low risk of the disease, those who carry extra pounds around their waists run similar risks as those who are seriously overweight as measured by their body mass index (BMI).

Waist sizes of more than 40in in men and bigger than 34in in women are classed as large.

Claudia Langenberg, of the Medical Research Council unit in Cambridge, which led the study, said more than a third of UK adults are overweight and at increased risk of diabetes.

“Our findings suggest that if their waist circumference is large, they are just as likely to develop the condition as if they were obese.”

She added: “We do not suggest replacing BMI as a core health indicator, but our results show that measuring waist size in overweight patients allows doctors to ‘zoom in’ on this large population group and identify those at highest risk of diabetes. These people can then be offered lifestyle advice, which can reduce their risk of developing the disease.”

While the causes of type 2 diabetes are not fully understood, being overweight or obese is the most important modifiable risk factor.

Researchers found seven per cent of men and four per cent of women, who were overweight with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 and had a large waist, developed diabetes within 10 years. In some, the risk was higher than obese people with a BMI above 30.

Obese women with a BMI above 35 and a large waist were almost 32 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than lean women with a BMI of less than 22.4 with a small waist, while men in the equivalent group were 22 times more likely to get the condition.