Analysis of Dietary Factors Affecting Body Mass Index in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) is correlated with the outcomes of various metabolic and pathological conditions. To elucidate the factors affecting BMI in elderly persons, we studied elderly persons with and without diabetes mellitus for BMI management target values using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. METHODS: We conducted a dietary survey targeting 60 elderly outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes group, 70.1 ± 7.8 years) and 66 elderly persons who participated in a health class offered by the municipality (health class group, 72.5 ± 5.7 years). RESULTS: In the diabetes group, positive correlations were observed between BMI and several variables including blood glucose levels (all P < 0.05), whereas BMI had negative correlations with the third principal component (positive weight for oils and fats). In addition, BMI was negatively correlated with the intake of oils and fats. In the health class group, BMI was positively correlated (all P < 0.05) with grip strength/sixth principal component (positive weight for sweets)/condiments. An analysis of dietary patterns revealed that dietary factors correlated with BMI in each group. The cutoff value of BMI was suggested to be near the normal upper limit or slightly higher in the subject group. CONCLUSION: We considered that BMI management was useful as an indicator for maintaining grip and muscle strength in elderly persons and as an indicator for diabetes care management. From the present study, we may propose the utility of a careful dietary survey as one of the approaches for these aims.