The diagnosis of obesity is infraestimated by body mass index and abdominal circumference in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Original articles - Vol.26 N.3  May-june 2010
S. Laguna¹, R.M. Príncipe², S. Botella³, G. Frühbeck⁴, F.J. Escalada⁵, J. Salvador⁶

 Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify obesity prevalence in type 2 diabetes (T2D) comparing criteria based on body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC) and air displacement pletismography (BOD POD®). Methods: A cross sectional study of 80 patients with T2D, studying the correlation among BMI, AC and body fat percentage after anthropometric assessment and BOD POD®. Obesity was defined using standard criteria as IMC >30 kg/m2, AC >102 cm in men or IMC >88 cm in women, or fat percentage >25% or >35% in women. The correlation with several parameters of metabolic syndrome, age, gender, tobacco, insulin treatment, diabetes duration and glycosylated hemoglobin has been also analyzed. Results: 38 patients were classified as obese (47.5%) according to BMI, 50 (62.5%) by AC, and 74 (92.5%) by BOD POD®. Statistically significant differences were found between BMI and BOD POD® (p <0.05), and between AC and BOD POD® (p <0.01). Having a BMI >30 kg/m2 has a specificity of 100% in the diagnosis of obesity, and a sensitivity of 51%. An AC superior to normality has a 66% of sensitivity and a 100% of specificity. BMI has a good correlation with body fat percentage (R= 0.65; p<0.01). Other variables associated with higher fat percentage were: gender (female, p <0.01); AC (p <0.01) and hip circumference (p <0.01). Conclusions: In patients with T2D, both BMI and AC infraestimate the diagnosis of obesity. Therefore we believe that corporal composition techniques should be used in the diagnosis of obesity in patients with T2D, specially in those with normal anthropometric criteria.

Correspondence

Correspondencia: S. Laguna Muro. Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición.
Clínica Universidad de Navarra. Avenida Pío XII, 36. 31008 Pamplona. 
Correo electrónico:slaguna@unav.es

Keywords

type 2 diabetes mellitus body mass index obesity body fat

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