Prevalence of obesity among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in urban areas of Belagavi

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major disease burden in India, and we are home to the second largest number of diabetes cases in the world with currently over 72 million cases of diabetes. The reported prevalence of obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was 60%–90%. Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases and are considered to be a strong risk factor for the development of T2DM. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among T2DM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients residing in areas under Ashok Nagar and Rukmini Nagar Urban Health Centres, Belagavi. Three hundred and eighty T2DM patients were included in the study over a period of 1 year (January 1–December 31, 2017). Predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic profile, and patient's height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and categorized based on Asian population. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test for categorical variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of generalized obesity (GO), abdominal obesity (AO), and combined obesity (CO) among T2DM patients were 58.68%, 81.84%, and 53.42%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender and hypertension were significantly associated with GO, AO, and CO. Physical inactivity and hyperglycemic state were significantly associated with AO and CO but not with GO. The duration of T2DM was significantly associated with AO but not with GO and CO. CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that obesity is a highly prevalent comorbidity in diabetic patients. AO appears to be a better indicator of diabetic risk than BMI. The combination of a low-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and behavioral therapy as the first-line intervention for weight loss should be stressed for the effective management of T2DM.