World-wide, 13 percent of men and 11 per cent of women had diabetes.
Governments need to take more preventive measures, including encouraging people to exercise and providing more access to physical activity, in order to stop rising rates of overweight and obesity, Balkau said.
“Physical activity and good nutrition are key. A change is needed or the public health situation for heart disease and diabetes will become worse,” she added.
About BMI
Body mass index, or BMI, which calculates height to weight is considered an accurate way of assessing overweight in most adults except for highly muscled athletes.
A body mass index (BMI) of 18-24 is typically considered healthy. People with BMIs of 25 to 30 are overweight and anyone with a BMI of 30 or more is obese.
Source: American Heart Association
For more information on the study, click here.
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