New research from Imperial College London reveals a worrying increase in early-onset type 2 diabetes among younger adults in England, particularly among young obese women. The study, published in Lancet Regional Health Europe, details a significant rise in new cases of type 2 diabetes among people under 40, contrasting with a decline among older adults.
The researchers analyzed data from 2011 to 2024 and found that while the overall incidence of type 2 diabetes is falling in older age groups, it is climbing rapidly in younger populations. Women aged 20 to 29 experienced a 69% increase in diagnoses, while men in the same age group saw a 43% rise. In contrast, older adults aged 60 to 79 showed a decline in new cases.
This troubling trend is linked closely to increasing obesity levels. Younger adults diagnosed with diabetes exhibited a much higher average body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis than older adults. For example, the BMI for white British women aged 20 to 29 rose from 37.7 in 2011 to 40.7 in 2024, while the rise for women aged 60 to 79 was much smaller, from 31.1 to 32.9. The data suggest that successive generations of young adults are developing type 2 diabetes at more severe obesity levels.
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The study highlights that this rise is evident across all ethnic groups but is particularly pronounced in white, Asian, and black women aged 20 to 29, as well as in white women aged 30 to 39.
Dr. Shivani Misra, the study’s lead author, explained that early-onset severe obesity is accelerating the risk of type 2 diabetes at younger ages, which poses serious health consequences. She emphasized the need for early treatment and intervention, including the use of GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy. These drugs are now recommended for younger adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, although more research is needed to understand their long-term effectiveness and impact after treatment ends.
Helen Kirrane of Diabetes UK stressed the urgency of addressing the growing epidemic among young adults, noting that early-onset type 2 diabetes tends to be more aggressive and can lead to serious complications, shortening lives. She called for stronger government action to reduce the availability and promotion of unhealthy foods and to create environments that support healthier lifestyles.
Dr. Misra added that societal factors, such as the widespread marketing of unhealthy foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, make young people particularly vulnerable to obesity. To curb the rise in type 2 diabetes, she advocates for comprehensive public health strategies aimed at preventing obesity and fostering healthier environments from an early age.