Clinical Study of Anthropometry in Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most common among endocrine and metabolic disorders. Anthropometry is the single most universally applicable inexpensive and non-invasive method available to assess the size, proportions and composition of the human body. Generalized obesity and central obesity both predispose the individual to insulin resistance and development of diabetes mellitus. Objective: (1) To study anthropometric measurements, like body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), skinfold thickness in Type I and Type II diabetic subjects. (2) To compare with healthy control subjects of the same age, sex and socio-economic status. Methods: A prospective controlled study of 50 consecutive diabetes mellitus patients grouped into 25 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 25 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were compared with healthy controls of same age, sex and socio-economic status. Results: The following parameters were found signifi cant. BMI: In IDDM females. WHR: In IDDM females, NIDDM males and females. Fat mass as percentage of body weight in IDDM males and females, NIDDM females were found signifi cant. Conclusion: In IDDM group, generalized wasting was present compared to controls. Increased WHR is not always an indicator of central obesity. In NIDDM group, generalized obesity, central obesity and increased fat mass were present compared to controls.