CHENNAI: At least three out of 10 adults in Chennai city have diabesity – a modern epidemic which indicates a combination of obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Together, these closely related metabolic conditions increase the risk of heart diseases, strokes and renal failure. While women had 1. 4 times more risk of diabesity compared to men, the risk increases by up to five times in people above 60 compared to those in the 18-29 years age group.
These are the findings of a study by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) as a part of the ongoing health surveillance study in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and SriLanka, funded by the U K-based National Institute for Health and Care Research. For the health surveillance study, scientists selected 1,138 adults from 34 randomly selected wards of Greater Chennai Corporation between May 2018 and September 2021. They underwent some basic tests and were asked a set of questions.
This study included 1,138 individuals including 683 women among whom 26. 3% had fasting glucose levels (test for diabetes) above 126mg/dl, 25. 6% had HbA1c (test for diabetes) above 6. 5. “Overall diabetes was around 43%, higher than the city’s estimate of around 35% because they have used fasting glucose and/or HbA1c and not the glucose tolerance test. Yet, the diabesity numbers are alarmingly high,” said senior diabetologist Dr Anjana Mohan.
Abdominal obesity wasaround 68. 5% and general obesity was around 61. 9%.
Nearly 60% of study participants were in the middle-income group, with a family income between Rs10,000 and 20,000 a month and around 46% had primary school education or less. Among those with diabesity, 4. 4% were smokers, 8. 7% consumed alcohol, and 1. 8% had five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. “Those physic ally inactive were at 1. 4 times higher risk compared to those who were active and the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and diabesity increased with age,” said Aarthi Garudam Raveendiran, the first author of the study. The risk of diabesity among people in the 30-39 age group is 3. 6 times higher than among those in the 18-29 age group. It increases to 4. 5 times in the 40-49 age group, and to 5. 4 times in the 50-59 age group.
Diabesity can have ill effects on the body in the long run even without patients realising it, says Dr Anjana. “It is important to manage body weig ht. People normally don’t think there is a problem because they are not unwell. But obesity is a silent disease that damages ty our body if it’s not controlled, even if you feel healthy,” she said.
Studies have shown that people who are obese have six times higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to people who have a healthy weight. Not everyone with obesity gets diabetes. There are other factors such as family history, lifestyle including diet and exercise, stress levels, gut health, and the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin. “But there is enough evidence to show that the risk is high. Worse, it can worsen diabetes quickly,” she said.
However, there is good news, “Both diabetes an d obesity or its combination can be prevented, stopped and reversed with meticulous planning of diet, exercise and medicines ,” she said.
These are the findings of a study by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) as a part of the ongoing health surveillance study in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and SriLanka, funded by the U K-based National Institute for Health and Care Research. For the health surveillance study, scientists selected 1,138 adults from 34 randomly selected wards of Greater Chennai Corporation between May 2018 and September 2021. They underwent some basic tests and were asked a set of questions.
This study included 1,138 individuals including 683 women among whom 26. 3% had fasting glucose levels (test for diabetes) above 126mg/dl, 25. 6% had HbA1c (test for diabetes) above 6. 5. “Overall diabetes was around 43%, higher than the city’s estimate of around 35% because they have used fasting glucose and/or HbA1c and not the glucose tolerance test. Yet, the diabesity numbers are alarmingly high,” said senior diabetologist Dr Anjana Mohan.
Abdominal obesity wasaround 68. 5% and general obesity was around 61. 9%.
Nearly 60% of study participants were in the middle-income group, with a family income between Rs10,000 and 20,000 a month and around 46% had primary school education or less. Among those with diabesity, 4. 4% were smokers, 8. 7% consumed alcohol, and 1. 8% had five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. “Those physic ally inactive were at 1. 4 times higher risk compared to those who were active and the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and diabesity increased with age,” said Aarthi Garudam Raveendiran, the first author of the study. The risk of diabesity among people in the 30-39 age group is 3. 6 times higher than among those in the 18-29 age group. It increases to 4. 5 times in the 40-49 age group, and to 5. 4 times in the 50-59 age group.
Diabesity can have ill effects on the body in the long run even without patients realising it, says Dr Anjana. “It is important to manage body weig ht. People normally don’t think there is a problem because they are not unwell. But obesity is a silent disease that damages ty our body if it’s not controlled, even if you feel healthy,” she said.
Studies have shown that people who are obese have six times higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to people who have a healthy weight. Not everyone with obesity gets diabetes. There are other factors such as family history, lifestyle including diet and exercise, stress levels, gut health, and the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin. “But there is enough evidence to show that the risk is high. Worse, it can worsen diabetes quickly,” she said.
However, there is good news, “Both diabetes an d obesity or its combination can be prevented, stopped and reversed with meticulous planning of diet, exercise and medicines ,” she said.