A Comparative Study of Waist Hip Ratio and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Diabetic and Non Diabetic Individuals of Chitwan, Nepal

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) comprises a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. The incidence of type 2 DM is rapidly increasing worldwide and constitutes a major global health problem. The various risk factors for the development of type 2 DM are obesity, ethnicity, sedentary life style, sex, family history, hypertension and smoking. However, there is now overwhelming evidence from experimental, epidemiological and interventional studies that obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 DM among all risk factors. Plethora of studies has shown a strong association between excess weight and risk of incident diabetes. Therefore, this study is designed to see the relationship of central and generalized obesities with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chitwan district of Nepal. Materials and methods: This is a comparative study of 200 participants. The study includes 100 participants with confirmed diagnosis of type 2 DM and 100 participants without any history of type 2 DM. Subjects with age group >35 years visiting OPD and IPD with confirmed diagnosis of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus were selected for the study and their laboratory reports were obtained for confirmation. After that detailed history of study participant's four anthropometric measurements: weight in kg, height in cm, waist circumference in cm, hip circumference in cm were taken. Body mass index and waist hip ratio were calculated from the above data. Result: In our study mean body mass index of male and female diabetic participants was higher than of non-diabetic male and female participants. Similarly in male participants waist circumference of diabetics was higher than non-diabetics and the difference was statistically significant and in female participants WC of diabetics was also higher than non-diabetics and the difference was statistically significant. Likewise in our study the range of WHR in both male and female diabetic participants was higher than non-diabetic participants and the result was statistically significant in both the cases. Conclusion: In light of the above findings, further longitudinal study should be designed in high risk groups that would aid in better understanding of the relationship of anthropometric parameters with type-2 diabetes mellitus.