Obese people in Beijing are 21 times more prone to type 2 diabetes than those at their proscribed weight, said Yang Jinkui, director of Beijing Diabetes Prevention Office.

A recent survey conducted by the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau on the nutrition and health of local residents shows that 7.7 percent of Beijing residents ages 15 and above suffer from diabetes. The rate with people over age 35 is about 8 percent.

The survey indicates that 37.1 percent of adults in Beijing are overweight, while 22.4 percent suffer from obesity.

Excessive eating and a lack of exercise are also among the main factors for diabetes, experts say.

To prevent the disease, Yang advised people to keep on diet, eat regular meals and do more exercise.

Yang said that diabetes rate among Chinese adults hit 5.5 percent this year, one percentage point higher than ten years earlier.

Statistics show that 150 million people around the world suffer from diabetes and experts believe the number may reach 300 million by 2025.