Almost one in four people worldwide will be obese and one in eight will have type 2 diabetes by 2045 if current trends continue, a new study has revealed.

According to the findings, 22% of people will be obese by 2045, up from 14% in 2017, while 12% will have type 2 diabetes, up from 9% in 2017.

Danish and UK researchers looked at population data for all countries in the world. Each population was divided into age groups and then further divided depending on their body mass index (BMI). The diabetes risk for each age and BMI group was then applied, allowing estimates of diabetes prevalence for each country each year.

Regional differences such as nutrition and genetic disposition for diabetes, were taken into account.

The researchers found that based on current trends, the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes are expected to rise and this will place further massive strain on healthcare systems across the world.

They pointed out that while immediate action will not reverse the epidemic of obesity and diabetes quickly, it is essential that work begins now to prevent future cases.

According to their estimates model, in order to prevent the prevalence of type 2 diabetes from going above 10% in 2045, global obesity levels must be reduced by 25%. However, this differs from country to country.

For example, in the UK, current trends suggest that obesity will rise from 32% today to 48% in 2045, while diabetes levels will rise from 10% to 12%.To stabilise these diabetes rates at 10%, obesity prevalence must fall from 32% to 24%.

According to Dr Alan Moses of Novo Nordisk Research and Development in Søborg, Denmark, these figures underline ‘the staggering challenge the world will face in the future' when it comes to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"As well as the medical challenges these people will face, the costs to countries' health systems will be enormous. The global prevalence of obesity and diabetes is projected to increase dramatically unless prevention of obesity is significantly intensified. Developing effective global programmes to reduce obesity offer the best opportunity to slow or stabilise the unsustainable prevalence of diabetes," he commented.

He pointed out that each country is different, incorporating unique genetic, social and environmental conditions. As a result, there is no ‘one size fits all' approach that will tackle this issue.

"Individual countries must work on the best strategy for them. However, despite the challenge all countries are facing with obesity and diabetes, the tide can be turned, but it will take aggressive and coordinated action to reduce obesity, and individual cities should play a key role in confronting the issues around obesity, some of which are common to them all, and others that are unique to each of them," Dr Moses added.

Details of these findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria.