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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, while women who measure more than 88cm (35 inches) are three times more likely to be diagnosed than others, according to advice from Public Health England, The Guardian reported.

People who are simply overweight, as well as those who are obese, are risking type 2 diabetes, which can lead to blindness, amputations and an early death, the public health body has warned.

Abdominal fat – around the stomach – is a better indicator of your chances of getting it than BMI (body mass index), which is a ratio of weight to height.

"Diabetes is a massive problem. It is getting clearer and clearer that it is a massive problem in England and the single best thing you can do to address it is to lose weight," said Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England.