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.