Obesity, Central Obesity, Overweight and Diabetes: Women are the Most Affected in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Objective: To determine the importance of obesity and analyze the relationship between general obesity and central obesity in persons with diabetes monitored in Bobo-Dioulasso teaching hospital. Methods: We used a sample of 380 persons with diabetes recruited through a study on compliance with follow-up examinations. Overweight and obesity were researched using the Quételet index, or Body Mass Index [BMI], which is defined as the individual’s mass divided by the square of their height, as well as waist size. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression were used [p<0.05]. Results: We found that 22.6% were obese [n=86], 29.2% were overweight [n=111] and 65.3% had central obesity [n=240]. The majority of obese [98.8%] and overweight cases [87.4%] and also 40.0% of those with normal BMI [n=160] and 8.6% of underweight cases [n=23] had central obesity. Being a woman was associated with general and central obesity. In a univariate analysis, obese were more likely to be woman, educated, have low incomes, reside in urban areas and have central obesity and a metabolic syndrome; central obesity is associated with being a woman, having a low income, residing in an urban area and having hypertension, obesity and a metabolic syndrome. In a multivariate analysis, being a woman, educated and having central obesity was found to be associated with obesity. On the other hand, being a woman, residing in an urban area and having hypertension, obesity and a metabolic syndrome remained associated with central obesity. Conclusion: Obesity, and above all, central obesityis a big problem in persons with diabetes, particularly in women in Bobo-Dioulasso, and waist size seems to be a better measurement compared to BMI. These results call for more organized diabetes care and prevention in Burkina Faso.