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Introduction: Overweight and obesity are the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to show that neck circumference is a simple tool to identify the overweight and obesity as a new anthropometric index and association with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 246 participants, 123 of whom had diabetes mellitus, and the same numbers were non-diabetics, adjusted for weight and height in both groups. Means with standard deviation were used for neck and waist circumferences, body mass index, and blood sugar, and the Pearson correlation test was applied to identify the association. A comparison of means was done by the student ‘t' test in parametric data within the two groups. Results: The mean neck circumference, body mass index of diabetes and non-diabetes participants were 38.0±3.0 cm, 28.5±2.6 and 36.6±3.2 kg/m2, 27.4±3.1 kg/m2 respectively. In diabetic patients, mean neck and waist circumference, blood sugar were higher than in nondiabetic patients and was significantly correlated with body mass index (r=0.747, p<0.001), waist circumference (r=0.635, p<0.001), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.740, p<0.001 and r=0.619, p<0.001 respectively), fasting and post prandial blood sugar (r=0.275, p=0.002 and r=0.307, p<0.001respectively) and glycated hemoglobin (r=0.220, p=0.014, n=123). In nondiabetic patients, glycated hemoglobin was negatively correlated. Conclusion: This study suggested that neck circumference is a simple, reliable, and appropriate new anthropometric tool to evaluate obesity, overweight, and the risk of metabolic disorders.