Magnitude and gender distribution of obesity and abdominal adiiposity in Nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Obesity and abdominal adiposity are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity in diabetes. This study evaluated their magnitude and gender distribution in Nigerians with Type 2 DM attending a tertiary care clinic.

Patients and Methods: 258 consecutive patients with type 2 DM were evaluated. Base line characteristics (gender, age, duration of DM), weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were recorded. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratios (WHR), and waist-to-height ratios (WHtR) were calculated for each patient.

Results: Despite similar demographics (mean age and duration of DM), the prevalence of of DM was significantly higher in females (35/135 i.e.25.9% compared to 13/123 i.e. 10.6% in males) (χ2; P=0.007). Median BMI (27.1 v. 25.6), WHtR (0.58 v. 0.54), and frequency of elevated WC (71.9% v. 21.1%) and elevated WHR (94.1% v. 49.6%) were all significantly higher in females compared to males (P<0.05). Amongst obese persons, the magnitude of obesity and abdominal adiposity was also significantly higher in females as exemplified by median BMI (females: 34.3 v. males 31.6; P=0.014) and median WHtR (0.70 v. 0.64; P=0.0016).

Conclusions: The evident gender disparity of obesity and abdominal adiposity in females with type 2 DM represented by this cohort buttresses the need to focus on obesity management in African women with DM as a special at-risk group in order to minimize the potential for adverse cardiovascular outcome
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Keywords: Obesity; Abdominal adiposity; Type 2 diabetes; Nigerians; Africans; Females

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.10 (1) 2007: pp.52-57