Objective: To study the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and diabetes in the elderly residents in Foshan.
Methods: A total of 3 382 people above 60 years old participated in this questionnaire-based survey, with their blood pressure, height, body weight, and blood glucose measured and oral glucose tolerance test performed.
Results: The prevalence rates of diabetes in the elderly subjects with obesity, overweight, normal weight, and underweight were 31.58%, 22.84%, 15.65% and 9.40%, respectively. The prevalence rate of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in relation to obesity, overweight, normal weight, and underweight were 67.94%, 56.14%, 46.58% and 38.35%, respectively. A higher mean BMI was accompanied by a greater prevalence of diabetes. The average BMI was 23.9+/-3.3 kg/m(2) in diabetic subjects, 23.4+/-3.4 kg/m(2) in subjects with IGT, and 22.6+/-3.2 kg/m(2) in normal elderly subjects.
Conclusion: There is a close correlation between BMI and diabetes.