Abdominal obesity coupled with greater sedentary behaviour is a driving factor for an early and more aggressive risk of diabetes among South Asians, including Indians, revealed a study on Tuesday. 

The study, published in the BMJ, explored the characteristics of type 2 diabetes in South Asians who tend to develop the condition at a younger average age and lower body mass index than the white population.

“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 (kidney disease, heart attacks),” endocrinologist Dr. Anoop Misra, Director of Diabetes Foundation (India), who led the study, told IANS.