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Prevalence of obesity in a Canarian community. Association with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Guía Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 557–560 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: We sought to estimate the prevalence of obesity and central obesity, and their association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Canarian community of Guía.

Design and setting: Population-based study.

Subjects: A random sample of 691 subjects over 30 y old (stratified by age and sex) was studied.

Data and measures: Age, sex, family history of diabetes and medication use were obtained, height, weight and waist circumference were measured and standard oral glucose tolerance tests were performed

Results: The prevalences of obesity/central obesity were 36.5%/66.5% (women) and 23.6%/32.0% (men). The prevalence of diabetes was 21.0% (women) and 18.4% (men). These rank among the highest in Europe. Bivariate analyses show a strong association of both obesity and central obesity with diabetes mellitus (P<0.001), but in a multivariate model, waist circumference (P<0.001) but not body mass index (P=0.212) was retained as an independent predictor of diabetes.

Conclusion: The prevalences of obesity, central obesity and diabetes in our community are extremely high, and central obesity is a better predictor of diabetes than obesity.

Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant of the Government of the Canarian Community, Public Health Department, no. BOCA-1996.

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Author notes

  1. PL de Pablos-Velasco: Guarantor: P de Pablos-Velasco.

  2. PL de Pablos-Velasco, FJ Martínez-Martín and F Rodríguez-Pérez: Contributors: PLdP-V was principal investigator; FJM-M was involved in statistical analysis and discussion; FR-P did the field work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Dr Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    PL de Pablos-Velasco & FJ Martínez-Martín

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine Hospital Dr Negrin, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    F Rodríguez-Pérez

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  1. PL de Pablos-Velasco
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  2. FJ Martínez-Martín
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  3. F Rodríguez-Pérez
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Correspondence to PL de Pablos-Velasco.

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de Pablos-Velasco, P., Martínez-Martín, F. & Rodríguez-Pérez, F. Prevalence of obesity in a Canarian community. Association with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Guía Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 557–560 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601401

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