Anyone carrying extra weight around their middle should be aware they might be at risk of type 2 diabetes.
According to a report from Public Health England, belly fat is the clearest sign of type 2 diabetes risk as men who measure more than 102cm (40 inches) around the middle – and not below the belly – are five times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than men with a smaller waist.
Women who measure more than 88cm (35 inches) are three times more likely to be diagnosed than those who are smaller.
The report showed almost 90% of people with the type 2 diabetes are overweight.
The NHS say having type 2 diabetes increases a person's chance of heart disease, stroke, circulation problems, nerve damage, foot ulcers, blindness and kidney damage.
According to The Guardian, Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England said: "Over 60% of us are at risk of type 2 diabetes because we are overweight. But overweight has become normalised and many people no longer realise they are potentially endangering their health.
"People underestimate their weight. They underestimate their children's weight - they perhaps think they don't need to do anything about it."
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A previous study from the Leiden University Medical Centre suggested eating a low calorie diet could cure type 2 diabetes in just four months.
Dr Sebastian Hammer from the study said: "It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low-calorie diet effectively cures Type 2 diabetes.
"Moreover, these effects are long term, illustrating the potential of this method. Lifestyle interventions may have more powerful beneficial cardiac effects than medication in these patients."
