Lifestyle changes among disadvantaged groups key to tackling
diabetes Being overweight is the most important single
contributing factor Research: Contribution of modifiable risk
factors to social inequalities in type 2 diabetes: prospective
Whitehall II cohort study Unhealthy behaviours like being
overweight, smoking and heavy drinking explain almost half of
the social inequalities in type 2 diabetes, finds a study
published on bmj.com today. The authors say further efforts to
tackle these risk factors, particularly excess weight, among
disadvantaged groups are urgently needed. The burden of type 2
diabetes disproportionally affects the lower socioeconomic
groups in society. Lifestyle related risk factors are thought to
play a key role, but previous studies have tended to
underestimate their effect. So an international team of
researchers set out to measure the contribution of several major
risk factors for type 2 diabetes to socioeconomic differences
across society. They assessed health behaviours (smoking,