Waist fat risk of diabetes

A thickening band of fat around the middle can be a major indicator of type 2 diabetes, but as many as nine out of ten people are not aware of the risk of extra fat around the waistline. Some 12,000 Europeans surveyed generally had little idea that a thick waist was a sign of dangerous fat buildup around the internal organs.
This type of fat is known as visceral fat, and has long been associated with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease . The danger is thought to be related to the release of proteins and hormones that can cause inflammation, which then can damage arteries and enter the liver.
Professor Steven Field of the Royal College of GPs was reported as commenting on the study: “Most overweight people still see themselves as having a body image issue not a health problem and they need to understand the health benefits of weight loss as well as the cosmetic results.”