Leanness and type 2 diabetes in a population of indigenous Australians
Received 15 August 2005; received in revised form 15 September 2005; accepted 19 September 2005. published online 02 November 2005.
Abstract
Objective
To determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its risk factors in a population of indigenous Australians.
Research design and methods
A cross-sectional study of 332 indigenous community residents aged 15 years and over with fasting blood samples and anthropometric measurements.
Results
Almost half of the study population (47.3%) was extremely lean (BMI<22kg/m2). Leanness was particularly pronounced in the youngest age group (15<20 years), 78% of which had a BMI<22kg/m2. The prevalence of diabetes was 12%. It was highest in those 45–54 years and declined in older aged people. No cases of diabetes were detected in those aged less than 30 years. Diabetes prevalence was strongly linked to BMI and age (age-adjusted odds ratio=24.1, 95% CI 6.0–96.5, p<0.001) for BMI≥25kg/m2 versus BMI<22kg/m2. Those with the lowest diabetes risk profile are lean (BMI<22kg/m2) and/or young (age 15–34 years).
Conclusions
These results highlight that strategies to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes should focus on the maintenance of leanness from adolescence and throughout adult life whilst young people are still in the process of forming lifelong habits.
ABSTRACT