Measures of body fat in diabetic and non-diabetic females

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Increased body fat (BF) predisposes to obesity linked co-morbidities, including diabetes. Data on body fat percentage in Sri Lankan adult populations are limited. Aim of this study was to assess %BF, waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) in adult diabetic, pre-diabetic and normoglycaemic females. METHODS: Free living females (n=25) aged 30-45 years, without any known illness, and 19 females of similar age, social class and employment, recently diagnosed with DM and yet untreated, were recruited from primary health care centers in Colombo Municipality for a community based cross sectional study. Weight, height and WC were measured using standard protocols and BMI calculated. Bio-impedance analysis was used to determine % BF. HbAlc was estimated and women grouped into diabetic (HbAlc >6.5 %), pre-diabetic (HbAlc 5.7-6.4 %) or normoglycemic categories. Results: Mean age of women was 36.6±4.1 years. In the group without known illness, 9 were pre-diabetic and 16 were normoglycaemic. No significant differences were observed between diabetic, pre-diabetic and normoglycaemic women in age or weight. There was no significant difference in BMI between diabetic (25.3±3.3kg/m), pre-diabetic (26.8±2.5 kg/m2) or normoglycaemic (24.4±3.7 kg/m2) women. However, %BF was significantly higher (p < 0.01) among diabetic (37.3± 6.1} and pre-diabetic (33.9±5.5) than in normoglycaemic women (28.6±9.9). WC was also significantly higher (p < 0.01) among diabetic (83.5±7.9 cm.) and pre-diabetics (84.5±6.8) than normoglycaemic women (76.2±6.4 cm). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, although there was no difference in BMI, pre-diabetic and diabetic women had a higher %BF and WC than normogiycaemics. Funded by IAEA.