EXPERTS today warned that obese people have an 80 times greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, fuelling fears of an explosion in the condition in Wales.
Although weight is not always a contributory factor in Type 2 diabetes the new research shows that the risk becomes progressively higher as a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) increases.
The report, published during Obesity Awareness Week, also states that Britain has the fastest growing rates of obesity in the developed world - in Wales about a quarter of adults are now classed as obese.
Andy Misell, of Diabetes UK Cymru, said, "These figures show the shocking extent to which obesity increases the risk of diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke and blindness.
"In short, obesity can take years off people's lives. It's a problem that must be tackled now."
The Diabetes UK report - Obesity and Diabetes: A Heavy Burden - reveals that once a person's BMI is over 30, they are already 10 times more likely to get diabetes.
Over a 10-year period, people with a BMI of over 35 are up to 80 times more likely to develop the condition than someone with a BMI of less than 22.