Men unaware of large waist size 'at risk of diabetes'
Men unware of their size and shape could be at risk of type two diabetes, study warns
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Tuesday, 26, Feb 2008 12:01
British men may be putting themselves at risk of diabetes by underestimating their waist size, a new study suggests.
The research found that male Britons perceive themselves to be more than three inches slimmer than they really are.
Those failing to realise their actual waist size could be ignoring one of the warning signs of diabetes, as a large waist is one the main risk factors for developing type two diabetes.
Eighty per cent of people diagnosed with this type of diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis.
Scientists at Leicester University looked at 502 men and women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
On average women got their waist measurements wrong by 2.2 inches while men underestimated their waist size by 3.1 inches.
The findings are due to be presented at the charity Diabetes UK's annual professional conference in Glasgow next week.
Lead researcher Professor Kamlesh Khunti commented: "People at increased risk of type two diabetes should be targeted with systematic screening which would go a long way towards reducing the costly diabetes-related complications.
"One method of screening includes patient self-assessment of their waist circumference.
"This research shows that people need to be educated about the risk of developing type two diabetes associated with large waist circumference and about accurately assessing their waist circumference."
Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said: "Measuring up is a reality check, the first step to recognising that you may not be as well as you feel.
"To believe that you are more than three inches slimmer than you are is to ignore a clear warning of a risk of diabetes.
"It can take years for symptoms of diabetes to emerge so simple indicators like waist size are important signals. There are up to 750,000 people in this country who have diabetes but are not yet diagnosed."