An insight into obesity in Type 2 Diabetic patients

Obesity presents a major health challenge for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent research indicates that alternative metrics like abdominal girth (AG) and body fat percentage (BF%) may better assess obesity-related metabolic risks in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these various obesity classification methods, body mass index (BMI), AG, and BF%, in individuals with T2DM. Researchers collected demographic and anthropometric data and analyzed body fat using a validated Omron fat analyzer.

The study revealed:

• BMI had a sensitivity of 41.6% in males and 45% in females when compared to BF%, and 38% for males and 40.7% for females when compared to AG. 
• Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was found between AG and BF% in the T2DM subjects.

The results thus, suggest that BF% and AG offer important insights into adiposity that surpass the limitations of BMI. While BF% directly reflects body fat content, AG indicates central fat distribution. The correlation between BF% and AG highlights that increased abdominal fat suggests higher overall body fat. By utilizing BF% and AG alongside BMI, healthcare providers can gain a thorough understanding of body composition and its association with metabolic health.

Source: Yogesh M, Mody M, Makwana N, Shah S, Patel J, Rabadiya S. Unravelling the obesity maze in diabetic patients: A comparative analysis of classification methods. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. June 202413(6):p 2283-2288,. | DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1255_23