Kamla-Raj 2009 J Hum Ecol, 25(1): 31-35 (2009) Prevalence of Obesity among Type-2 Diabetics Shilpi Sharma and Shashi Jain College of Home Science, Department of Foods and Nutrition, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India KEYWORDS Obesity. Type 2 Diabetes. BMI. Waist Hip Ratio ABSTRACT As per first law of thermodynamics, obesity results from an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake. There is an intimate relationship between obesity and diabetes mellitus. It was observed that diabetes incidence rise with increasing BMI (Body Mass Index). The prevalence of diabetes is 2.9 times higher in overweight than in normal weight subjects of 20 to 70 years of age. Along with BMI, individuals with upper body obesity or adiposity are at high risk for hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes. This study was therefore, planned to evaluate the prevalence of obesity in type-2 diabetic subjects. A total of 60 type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects (27 males and 33 females) were recruited from the outpatients diabetic clinic of P.B.M. Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Obesity and overweight was assessed by BMI categories Abdominal adiposity was determined by waist hip ratio, which is specific for sex. The results revealed that study group was overweight/obese (BMI>25kg/m 2 ). Further mean waist hip ratio of male and female patients was 1.0±0.01 and 0.96±0.07 respectively, which indicate that subjects had abdominal obesity. Results indicate that nearly all the female patients (84.84%) had abdominal obesity, where as only 15.15 percent were normal as per the WHR indicator. In case of male patients 40.70 percent of the patients had abdominal obesity. These results clearly indicate that the overweight/obesity persist in type 2 diabetic patients, which is more identical by abdominal obesity thus it can be used as a major indicator in assessing diabetes. INTRODUCTION According to the first law of thermodynamics, obesity results from an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake. Obesity is the result of changes in diet and life style that accompany economic development, urbanization and globalization. Diet, nutrition and changing lifestyles are foremost among the principal drives of obesity in developing as well as developed countries. There is an intimate relationship between obesity and diabetes mellitus. International Diabetes Federation Congress in Helsinki, Finland, reported that obesity is the most preventable and important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Almost 4 out of 5 people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are obese (Kissebah et al. 1989). The risk for diabetes has been reported by AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 1998) to be about 2-fold in the Address for correspondence: Dr (Mrs) Shashi Jain 8 C Adarsh Nagar, University Road., Udaipur, Rajasthan, India Telephone: +91-294 -2470967 Mobile: +91-94133 18013 E-mail: shashijain13@yahoomail.co.in, shashijain_13@rediffmail.com, shilpisharma@realbikaner.com mildly obese, 5-fold in moderately obese and 10- fold in severe obese persons. In cross-sectional studies, obesity has been shown to be associated with an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in both men and women. The initiating event is positive energy balance, which leads to increased fat mass. As fat mass increases and as fat cell size increases, the regulation of free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism becomes abnormal. This changes leads to an increase in FFA production. The increased FFA concentrations compete with glucose for oxygen in insulin-sensitive tissues and stimulate endogenous glucose production, causing insulin resistance, which is the earliest detectable abnormality in patients with type 2 diabetes (Evan 1996). AACE reported that insulin resistance is a decrease in the effectiveness of insulin or in the sensitivity of the body s various biologic processes to insulin. Its incidence rises with increasing BMI. The prevalence of diabetes is 2.9 times higher in over weight (BMI 27.8 in men and 27.3 in women) than in normal weight subjects of 20 to 75 years of age. Studies of NIHC (National institute of health consensus, 1985) revealed that along with BMI, individuals with upper body obesity or adiposity are at high risk for hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
32 SHILPI SHARMA AND SHASHI JAIN Studies conducted by Lahti-Koski et al. (2000) reported that abdominal adiposity, measured by an elevated waist to hip ratio (WHR), is shown to be a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prospective studied also support the association of various anthropometric indices of abdominal adiposity and the future development of diabetes (Ohlson et al. 1985; Karter et al. 1996). Earlier reports (Obisesan et al. 1997; Brochou et al. 2000; Enino et al. 2001) has been suggested that abdominal adiposity is an independent predictor of alteration in the plasma lipid, lipoprotein and plasma glucose concentrations. There appears to be a biologically plausible metabolic basis for the detrimental influence of abdominal adiposity. High proportion of upperbody fat or abdominal fat, independent of overall obesity, is recognized as an important component in the insulin resistance linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus as reported by Abate et al. (1995) and Goodpaster et al. (2000). An earlier report of Despres (1994) revealed that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia are associated with lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency, which causes elevation in the level of free fatty acids and a reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These elevated levels of free fatty acids may induce insulin resistance in the peripheral tissues and liver. Insulin resistance eventually produces sufficient glucose intolerance to results in frank diabetes. Few studies have suggested less influence of fat distribution on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism for African-Americans compared to non-hispanic white individuals, while other studies indicate a difference in the association. Vague (1947) reported that Asian Indian (living in the United States) are more susceptible to developing abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance, which might account for the excessive morbidity and mortality from diabetes in this population. However, the data in this area is scanty and very less information on the influence of fat pattern on the metabolic status of Indian population is available. This study was therefore planned to evaluate the trend of both, overweight/ obesity and abdominal adiposity in type 2 diabetic subjects of north west India. MATERIAL AND METHOD Subjects: A total 60 type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects (27 males and 33 females) were enrolled for the study. The subjects were recruited from the out patients diabetic clinic of P.B.M. Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan. The mean chronological age of the study population was 51.95±1.15 years. The duration of the disease was 3.76±1.67 years for the study subjects. Anthropometric measurements, clinical examination, detail history and biochemical indices were assessed for all the selected patients. History regarding age, sex and duration of diabetes were recorded for all the patients. Anthropometric Measurements: Trained investigator obtained the anthropometric data. Measurements were taken without the subjects wearing shoes or heavy outdoor clothing. Height was measured to the nearest centimeter using a anthropometric rod with the subject standing erect on the floor with the back against a vertical mounted ruler. Weight of the subjects was measured on a pre-standardized scale to the nearest 100 gm. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using the formula, weight (in kg) divided by height (in m 2 ).The hip circumference was measured at the maximum circumference around the hips, and the waist circumference was obtained at the level of the umbilicus with the subject supine. The waist to hip ratio (WHR) was also calculated. Assay Method: Venous blood sample of all the subjects was collected after an overnight fast. The blood sample collected with fluoride and EDTA preservatives was used for blood glucose analysis. Glucose oxidase method with a glucose analyzer was used for determining blood glucose levels and 75gm oral glucose test (OGTT) was performed after an overnight fast in all the selected subjects. Subjects were defined as having diabetes if they met the WHO criteria (fasting whole venous blood glucose 126mg/dl or 2-h blood glucose after a 75-g OGTT 200mg/dl) or if there was documented evidence of diabetes in the medical records. Statistical Analysis: Results are expressed as percentage and in mean ± SD. RESULTS Table 1 shows the general information of the study population. It discern the fact that mean weight of female patients of the study population was 67.93 kg, which is 135.86 percent to weight
PREVALENCE OF OBESITY AMONG TYPE-2 DIABETICS 33 Table 1: General information of patients Variables Values Chronological age (years) 51.95 ±1.15 Duration of diabetes (years) 3.76 ±1.67 Fasting blood sugar (mg/dl) 188.19±10.36 Number of diabeics 60 Male 27 Female 33 Anthropometric Characteristics Weight (kg) Male 69.95 ±2.05 Female 67.93 ±1.56 Height (m) 1.51 ±0.01 Body mass index (kg/m) 26.67 ±0.84 Waist hip ratio Male 1.0 ±0.01 Female 0.96 ±0.07 waist hip ratio of male and female patients was 1.0±0.01 and 0.96±0.07 respectively, which indicate abdominal obesity (Table 1). Table 2 potrays the fact that nearly all the female patients (84.84%) had abdominal obesity, where as only 15.15 percent were normal as per the WHR indicator (Fig. 2). In case of male patients 40.70 percent of the patients had abdominal obesity, where as 59.25 percent patients were normal (Fig. 3). Mean fasting blood glucose level of the patients was 188.19±10.36 mg/dl, indicate elevated or poor control on diabetes as per the UPKDS categories (1984). 10% 27% 7% 3% of the reference Indian female as given by ICMR (1994). Further perusal of data revealed that mean weight of male patients was 69.95 kg, which was also higher (114.75 %) than the reference Indian male. BMI of the study population was also calculated. It provides an appropriate indication of fat and takes into account the fact that height is a linear measurement and weight reflects body mass or volume. A perusal of table 1 revealed that study group 17-18.5 was overweight having BMI of 5% 26.67±0.84 kg/m 2 compared with categories suggested by 18.5-20 5% the WHO (1999). Table 2 and Figure 1 revealed 20-25 that only 43.33 percent patients were normal as per the categories of BMI, where 25-30 as nearly half (46.65%) of the patients were overweight/obese 30-35(BMI>25kg/m 2 ). Further mean 43% 35-40 Table 2: Prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity >40 by using anthropometric indices Anthropometric Type of % (n) indices malnutrition BMI (kg/m 2 ) <16 CED grade 3* - 16-17 CED grade 2-17-18.5 CED grade 1 5 (3) 18.5-20 Low weight normal 5 (3) 20-25 Normal 43.33 (26) 25-30 Over weight 26.66 (16) 30-35 Obese grade 1 10 (6) 35-40 Obese grade 2 6.66 (4) >40 Obese grade 3 3.33 (2) Waist Hip Ratio Female <0.85 Normal 15.15 (5) >0.85 Abdominal obesity 84.84 (28) Male <0.95 Normal 59.25 (16) >0.95 Abdominal obesity 40.70 (11) *CED= Chronic energy deficient Fig 1. Prevalence of obesity/overweight in diabetics using BMI (kg/m2). Fig 2. Prevalence of abdominal obesity in female diabetics by waist hip ratio. 41% 85% 15% 59% <0.85 >0.85 <0.95 >0.95 Fig 3. Prevalence of abdominal Obesity in male diabetics by waist hip ratio. DISCUSSION Studies done by Despres et al. (1990), Ostlund et al. (1990) and Kissebah and Krawkower (1994) reported that adiposity carries a penalty in that it leads to a worsening of all the elements of the
34 metabolic syndrome viz., insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The metabolic consequences of obesity are varied depending on the etiology, distribution and character of the excess adipose tissue. In the late 1940s, Vague suggested that the relative proportion of body fat in the upper body versus lower body was an important factor to consider while investigating obesity-related health problems. However, it was only since the 1980-90s that more attention has been focused on abdominal obesity, rather than obesity per se as an important correlates for various metabolic disturbance (Seidell et al. 1989; Kannel et al. 1996 and Chandalia et al. 1999). In the present study attempt was made to find out the trend of overweight/obesity (measured by BMI) and abdominal obesity (indexed by WHR) in diabetic patients because it influences the metabolic status of type2 diabetics. Results clearly depicted that majority of the patients were overweight/obese and having abdominal obesity. Pi-Sunyer (1993) also reported that high BMI associated with elevated abdominal and peripheral adiposity. It is now recognized that excess abdominal distribution of fat is more closely associated with the development of metabolic abnormalities. It is speculated that the unfavorable changes observed with high BMI may in fact be attributed to the detrimental influence of abdominal adiposity on the metabolic processes. While the cause of this association is not fully established, the possible mechanism is hypothesized to be mediated by the intra-abdominal fat depot. A preponderance of enlarged fat cells in this type of adipose tissue increases the risk of glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and hypertriglyceridemia (Chandalia et al. 1999; Despres 1994; Karter et al. 1996). 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