Study links belly fat, sedentary habits to early diabetes risk in South Asians

A new study published in the BMJ has revealed that abdominal obesity combined with increasingly sedentary lifestyles is fuelling an early and more aggressive onset of type 2 diabetes among South Asians, particularly Indians, the Hans India reported yesterday.

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The findings highlight the alarming trend that this population develops diabetes at a younger age and with lower body mass index (BMI) compared to white populations, leading to faster progression and more severe complications.

“South Asians face type 2 diabetes earlier and more aggressively than most other populations. Our review shows that diabetes often begins at lower body weight, progresses rapidly, and leads to more complications like kidney disease and heart attacks,” said Dr. Anoop Misra, Director of Diabetes Foundation (India) and lead author of the study.

The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the US, UK, and Sri Lanka, analyzed randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It found that the prevalence of diabetes in South Asia is not only high but also rising alarmingly among younger populations.