As part of a national study in Australia to measure diabetes levels, experts gave nearly 600 adults a pedometer to measure how many steps they took over two consecutive days in 2000 and again in 2005.

Participants also completed a diet and lifestyle questionnaire and had their measurements - including height, weight and insulin sensitivity - taken.

It was found that people who walked the most after five years not only had a lower body mass index, but were also more sensitive to insulin and less likely to develop diabetes.

Many governments and health officials recommend people walk 10,000 steps a day, the equivalent of about five miles (eight kilometres). The study authors, from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, estimated that if a sedentary person increased their daily steps to reach the 10,000 step threshold, he or she would lower their body mass index by almost one point and improve their sensitivity to insulin by three times.

Health officials have long suggested people stay slim and exercise to avoid diabetes.