Health Desk || A recent study by Imperial College London has found a sharp rise in type-2 diabetes cases among young women in the United Kingdom, with researchers pointing to increasing obesity rates after the Covid-19 pandemic as a major factor.Analysing data from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), the study found that type-2 diabetes prevalence has increased significantly among women aged 20 to 29, while rates among older adults have remained stable or slightly declined in some groups.Researchers said type-2 diabetes is not only linked to high blood sugar levels but also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious health complications. Diabetes UK warned that developing the condition at a younger age can lead to more severe health impacts and raise the risk of organ damage and premature death.Study lead Dr Shivani Misra said rising levels of severe obesity have contributed to a significant decline in the average age of type-2 diabetes diagnosis. She added that the condition, once more common in certain ethnic minority groups, is now increasing rapidly among white populations as well.The UK currently has around six million people living with diabetes, with nearly 90 percent affected by type-2 diabetes. Although traditionally considered an age-related disease, around 12,000 people under the age of 30 are now living with the condition, many of them young women.Experts advise people to seek medical attention if they experience common symptoms such as extreme tiredness, frequent urination and excessive thirst.NHS data from 2019 to 2025 shows that obesity rates increased by 16 percent among people aged 20 to 29 and nearly 20 percent among those aged 30 to 39 after the pandemic, which researchers identify as a key driver behind the growing diabetes trend.