Prevalence of Obesity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Yemen

BACKGROUND: Obesity is common in type 2 diabetic patients in some of the Middle Eastern countries, which are amongst the countries with highest rates of diabetes mellitus and obesity. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of obesity in Yemeni patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Body mass index (BMI) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were 25-years-old or older was measured during their first visit to an endocrinology and diabetes clinic in Sana’a, Yemen over a 4-year period from May 2007 to May 2011. RESULTS: The BMI was measured in 1640 patients (721 males and 919 females) who attended the clinic. According to the measured BMI, 328 (45.5%), 314 (43.5%), 79 (11%) of the male patients were non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), respectively. On the other hand, 256 (28%), 369 (40.0%), and 294 (32%) of the female patients were non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Yemen is high with respect to the Yemeni population, especially in females.