Waist circumference ‘could offer diabetes risk indicator’

Waist circumferences could offer a strong indicator of a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

A recent collaborative reanalysis of data from the InterAct case-control study – led by Claudia Langenberg of the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit – has revealed that this risk factor is not dependent on body mass index (BMI) data.

Results from the trial suggested that BMI and waist circumference were both independently associated with type 2 diabetes risk, but waist circumference was a stronger risk factor in women than in men.

This information could be vital in the identification of a high-risk subgroup of patients who could benefit from individualised lifestyle advice.

The report's author said: "Our results clearly show the value that measurement of waist circumference may have in identifying which people among the large population of overweight individuals are at highest risk of diabetes."

Last month, a report from the World Health Organization revealed that cases of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are currently on the rise across the globe.