Body Composition and Different Criteria for Obesity Evaluation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with and Without Angiopathy

Abstract

Background: A single method is not suitable for obesity and body fat evaluation in type 2 diabetic patients. An observational analytical case control study was performed in Caucasian type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects to compare body fatness, obesity prevalence and to evaluate type 2 diabetes (DT2) and angiopathy contribution to obesity prevalence. Methodology: A total of 293 adults were studied in three groups: GI 75 type 2 diabetic subjects with angiopathy; GII 75 type 2 diabetic subjects without angiopathy; GIII 143 controls. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and body fatness estimated by nine anthropometric equations. Obesity prevalence was calculated using three criteria: BMI, waist circumference and body fat percentage. Results: According to BMI, the obesity prevalence was (GI: 57.3%; GII: 45.4%; GIII: 16.8%). The abdominal obesity prevalence was similar in diabetics (70.7%) and significantly higher than in non-diabetic subjects (51.0%). The obesity prevalence calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis was higher than 70% in all groups. According to BF%, the DT2 and angiopathy presence did not increase the probability to have obesity. Deurenberg equation from 1998 was the most accurate and showed the lowest variability when compared to bioelectrical impedance. Conclusion: DT2 and angiopathy were not associated with increased body fatness prevalence. BMI and waist circumference criteria are not suitable to evaluate the obesity prevalence in the study population. The Deurenberg equation seems to be the best choice to assess body fat in Caucasian diabetic patients when more accurate methods are not available.