Losing weight could reverse type 2 diabetes even among sufferers who of a normal weight, a study suggests.
Researchers say the condition isn't trigged by becoming technically overweight but by people surpassing their 'personal fat threshold'.
And as a rule to avoiding the condition, the scientists say your waist size should be the same now as when you were 21.
Professor Roy Taylor, from Newcastle University, said: 'If you can’t get into the same size trousers now, you are carrying too much fat and therefore at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even if you aren’t overweight.'
Experts analysed 12 people with type 2 diabetes who were classified as being of a 'normal' BMI by the NHS's own calculator.
Losing weight could help type 2 diabetes sufferers reverse their condition even if they are not classified as being overweight. new research suggests. (stock image)
They then put them on a 800 calories-a-day diet of soups and shakes for two weeks and helped support them to keep the pounds off for another four to six weeks.
This was repeated for up to three rounds, until they had lost 10-15 per cent of their starting body weight.
Eight of them achieved remission of the condition.
This was classed as having an average blood sugar level, and being off all diabetes medication.
Participants' levels of fat in the liver and pancreas
