A survey released today has revealed that many adults in England have more than one health risk factor while increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with diabetes.

According to the 2017 study by NHS Digital, 19% and 32% of adults had three or more and two risk factors respectively. Risk factors include smoking, drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, eating less than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, doing little physical activity and being obese.

Nearly 8,000 adults aged 16 and over and 1,985 children up to 15 were interviewed as part of the survey which involved a face-to-face interview followed by a visit from a nurse who took “a number of measurements and samples” according to NHS Digital.

Thirteen per cent of adults had no risk factors and 36% had one while 54% of men and 47% of women had two or more risk factors.

The number of men diagnosed by a doctor with diabetes between 1994 and 2017 increased from 3% to 8%. For women that proportion rose from 2% to 5%.

The largest increase was in the 65 to 74-year age group, going from 5% in 1994 to 15% in 2017. Blood samples collected by a nurse found that 20% of adults with diabetes were undiagnosed.

Picture: ebolyukh (iStock)