Differences in Body Fat Distribution Play a Role in the Lower Levels of Elevated Fasting Glucose amongst Ghanaian Migrant Women Compared to Men |
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Authors: | Mary Nicolaou Anton E. Kunst Wim B. Busschers Irene G. van Valkengoed Henriette Dijkshoorn Linda Boateng Lizzy M. Brewster Marieke B. Snijder Karien Stronks Charles Agyemang |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; 2. Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; 3. Departments of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; CUNY, United States of America, |
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Abstract: | BackgroundDespite higher levels of obesity, West African migrant women appear to have lower rates of type 2 diabetes than their male counterparts. We investigated the role of body fat distribution in these differences.MethodsCross-sectional study of Ghanaian migrants (97 men, 115 women) aged 18–60 years in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Logistic regression was used to explore the association of BMI, waist and hip measurements with elevated fasting glucose (glucose≥5.6 mmol/L). Linear regression was used to study the association of the same parameters with fasting glucose.ResultsMean BMI, waist and hip circumferences were higher in women than men while the prevalence of elevated fasting glucose was higher in men than in women, 33% versus 19%. With adjustment for age only, men were non-significantly more likely than women to have an elevated fasting glucose, odds ratio (OR) 1.81, 95% CI: 0.95, 3.46. With correction for BMI, the higher odds among men increased and were statistically significant (OR 2.84, 95% CI: 1.32, 6.10), but with consideration of body fat distribution (by adding both hip and waist in the analysis) differences were no longer significant (OR 1.56 95% CI: 0.66, 3.68). Analysis with fasting glucose as continuous outcome measure showed somewhat similar results.ConclusionCompared to men, the lower rates of elevated fasting glucose observed among Ghanaian women may be partly due to a more favorable body fat distribution, characterized by both hip and waist measurements. |
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