Appropriate body mass index cut-off point in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus in the population of Kavre district.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to find out the appropriate BMI cut-off point in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the population of Kavre district of Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-five "known type 2 diabetic" and Thirty-five "self-reported non-diabetic" subjects above thirty years of age were included in the present study. Height and weight were recorded for every subject. BMI was calculated by the standard formula. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 11.5. RESULTS Our results showed that the reference BMI range for both diabetic male (23.26 +/- 6.88 kg/m(2)) and diabetic female (22.51 +/- 6.28 kg/m(2)) subjects were within normal BMI range according to WHO. Odds ratio showed an irregular pattern at different BMI ranges indicating the risk of having diabetes did not increase constantly. Comparison of number and percentage of both diabetic and non-diabetic male and female subjects according to various recommended normal BMI categories showed gradual reduction in percentage of both diabetic and non-diabetic male and female subjects that were within normal ranges from BMI category 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) to BMI category 18.5-21.9 kg/m(2). The BMI cut-off point was found 22 kg/m(2) using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. CONCLUSION The appropriate BMI cut-off point for both men and women was found 22 kg/m(2) in the population of Kavre district of Nepal.