Association between duration of obesity and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - The Sotetsu Study

The authors investigated the association between duration of obesity (ordinary obesity as body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) greater than or equal to 25.0 and extreme obesity as BMI greater than or equal to 27.8) and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Male employees of a railway company, aged 30 years or older, observed for 10 years or more, free from serious disease conditions, with initial BMI <25.0, aged 30 years or more at the time diabetes was diagnosed, and with complete data, were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses (n = 1,598). Age-adjusted odds ratios for diabetes were significantly increased among males who were obese for 10-19.9 years and greater than or equal to 20 years (odds ratios = 2.10 and 2.84 for ordinary obesity and 6.14 and 4.15 for extreme obesity, respectively). Additional adjustment for current obesity, physical activity, smoking, drinking, family history, and observation period did not change the findings remarkably. In conclusion, greater than or equal to 10 years duration of ordinary obesity or greater than or equal to 1 year of extreme obesity was an important predictor for diabetes independent of age, current obesity, physical activity, smoking, drinking, family history, and observation period.