The Clinical Significance of Anthropometric Measurements of Obesity in Type 2 Diabetics

Choi, Young Sun; Park, Si Hyung; Kim, Bo Wan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is well demonstrated that obesity is associated with many chronic disorders like type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. In Korea, there are numerous reports revealed the possible relationship between anthropometric indices of obesity and the aformentioned disorders in nondiabetic healthy population, but the reports in type 2 diabetics are limited. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the relationship among the anthropometric indices and fasting insulin, C-peptide, and serum lipid levels in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetics. METHOD: A total of 160 type 2 diabetics were recruited from the out-patient department of endocrinoloy of Kyungpook National University Hospital from March to June 1999. The following subjects were excluded from the study: duration of type 2 diabetes > 5year, receiving of insulin or lipid lowering agents. For all participants, body mass index, percent of body fat, waist and hip circumference were measured. Fasting plasma insulin, C-peptide, blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also assayed. Partial correlation analysis was used to test the relationships between anthropometric indices and laboratory data.
RESULTS
1) In male subjects, fasting plasma insulin level was not significantly correlated with any of the anthropometric variables. However, in female subjects, fasting plasma insulin level was significantly correlated with body mass index, percent of body fat, and waist circumference. 2) Fasting plasma C-peptide level significantly correlated to all of the anthropometric variables in female patients, but in males only significant association was seen between fasting plasma C-peptide level and waist circumference. 3) Total cholesterol level was significantly correlated with percent of body fat and waist/hip ratio in male andfemale subjects respectively.
CONCLUSION
Anthropometric indices of abdominal obesity appear to be correlated with insulin production and lipid changes in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetics. Waist circumference is a more useful predictor of hyperinsulinemia than waist/hip ratio in both sexes.