Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among diabetic women of reproductive age attending a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Exhibit hall (Dena'ina Center)
Jesmin Akter, MPH , Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
INTRODUCTION:  Overweight and obesity are major contributors of insulin resistance and their prevalence and determinants are known to vary in different populations. The objective of the present study was to assess the proportion and determinants of overweight and obesity among diabetic women of reproductive age in Bangladesh.

METHODS:  This cross-sectional study was conducted among 888 diabetic women of reproductive age attending the out-patient department of the Diabetic Association. BMI (WHO Guideline for SEA population) was used to assess the general obesity. Waist Circumference (IDF criteria for SEA population) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHO criteria) were used to assess central obesity. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to explore the association between two variables and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the individual effect of predictor variables and to adjust for potential confounding factors.

RESULTS:  The overall prevalence of overweight was 47% and that of obesity was 23%. Prevalence of central obesity by waist circumference was 77% and by waist-hip ratio was 97%. Overweight and obesity were higher in the age group of 45-49 years (49%) and 35-44 years (24%) respectively. On Pearson’s correlation analysis, BMI (r=0.135, p=0.001) and WC (r=0.162, p=0.001) were significantly associated with age. BMI (r=0.151, p=0.001), WC(r=0.087, p=0.009) and WHR(r=0.094, p=0.005) were also significantly correlated with income. On binary logistic regression analysis, BMI was significantly associated with age (p<0.05), income (p<0.05) and management of diabetes by OHA (p<0.05). WC was significantly associated with age (p<0.001), income (p<0.05) and management of diabetes by OHA (p<0.05) and insulin p<0.05). WHR was significantly associated only with duration of diabetes (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:  A high prevalence of both overweight and obesity exists in diabetic women of reproductive age in Bangladesh and it seems to be associated with increasing age, income, duration of diabetes, and use of oral hypoglycemic agents.