Sex differences in the prevalence of obesity in 800,000 Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the sex differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity aged 20–89 in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: 811,264 patients with T2D from six hospital-based, cross-secti onal studies, and 46,053 subjects from the general population were included in ou r analysis. Prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity were calculated in each sex. Results: In patients with T2D, the standardized prevalence of underweig ht (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), overweight (24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2), and general obesity (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) were 2.2%, 43.2%, and 11.6%, respectively. Similar trend patter ns of the prevalence of underweight and overweight were observed in general and T2D pop ulation, in males and females with T2D (all P for trend <0.01). In patients with T2D, patients at a younger age and older age were more likely to be underweight. The preva lence of overweight increased first, then stabilized or decreased with age. However, different trend patterns of the prevalence of obesity in males and females were found. I n males, the prevalence of obesity decreased first, and then stabilized after 60 years o f age. In females, the prevalence of obesity decreased first, then increased after 50 y ears of age. In the general population, the prevalence of obesity increased with age in fem ales, while, the trend of prevalence of obesity with age in males was not obvious. Conclusion: Different trends in the prevalence of obesity with age in differe nt sex were found in Chinese patients with T2D.

Keywords

• sex differences
• obesity
• overweight
• type 2 diabetes