OBJECTIVES: The worldwide epidemic of obesity largely explains the dramatic raise in the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes over the past 20 years. Obesity increases the probability of progression of many common diabetic micro and macro-vascular complications among type 2 diabetic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of obesity among type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was established at endocrine clinics in Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, October 2016-2017. About 600 Subjects were assessed to identify demographic criteria and lab tests. Classification of Body Mass Index (BMI) was guided by the WHO BMI Database (http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html). IBM SPSS Statistics V23.0 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: From 600 cases, with age (55±14.8) years, distributed as 310 (51.7%) female, 290 (48.3%) male, 221 (36.8%) Malaysian, 211 (35.2%) Chinese, 162 (27%) Indian and 6 (1%) others. Only 1 (0.17%) was underweight, Malaysian female 75 years old. Subjects with normal weight were 155 (25.8%) of age (60±14.8) years and 79 (51%) male. On the other hand, the overweight group was 223 (37.2%) subjects with age (56.5±14.8) years and 115 (51.6%) male. While the obesity cohort was 221 (36.7%) patients with age (49.9±14.8) years and 125 (56.6%) female. Malaysian was 41 (18.6%) normal weight, 80 (36.2%) overweight and 99 (44.8%) obese. Chinese was 68 (32.2%) normal weight, 81 (38.4%) overweight and 62 (29.4%) obese. Indian was 46 (28.4%) normal weight, 59 (36.4%) overweight and 57 (35.2%) obese. Female was 76 (24.5%) normal weight, 108 (34.8%) overweight and 125 (40.3%) obese. While male was 79 (27.2%) normal weight, 115 (39.7%) overweight and 96 (33.1%) obese.

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly three-quarters of the patients are overweight or obese. Obesity is more prevalent among female and Malaysian than male, Indian and Chinese. Chinese and male have the highest prevalence of normal weight.