Study Links Rising Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes to Obesity in UK

A study led by Imperial College London researchers found a rapid increase in type 2 diabetes diagnoses among people under 40 in England, particularly affecting young women between 2011 and 2024.

The research, published in 'Lancet Regional Health Europe', identifies a dramatic rise in average BMI at diagnosis, with some groups reaching severe obesity levels approaching 40 kg/m².

Authors suggest that the obesogenic environment and sedentary lifestyles are driving this trend, calling for earlier identification and intensive weight-management interventions for younger adults at risk.