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Marriage halves risk for overweight in adults with type 2 diabetes
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Adults with type 2 diabetes who are married and living with their spouse are 50% less likely to develop overweight vs. single adults with diabetes, according to data from a cross-sectional study presented at the 52nd European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting.
“Men who were married and lived with their spouse also exhibited a risk reduction of 58% for metabolic syndrome,” Yoshinobu Kondo, MD, PhD, of Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, and colleagues wrote. “In contrast, being single was a risk factor for overweight status and metabolic syndrome, especially among male patients. These findings suggest that social supportive care is needed to help single patients with [type 2 diabetes] manage their body weight.”
Kondo and colleagues analyzed data from 270 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 180 married patients (109 men) and 90 single patients (46 men); metabolic syndrome-related information was assessed in a review of medical records. Researchers assessed BMI and body fat mass via bioelectrical impedance body composition analyzer and used logistic regression analysis to determine the relationship marital status and overweight status (BMI 25 kg/m²).
Compared with the single group, married patients had a significantly lower BMI (mean, 24.5 kg/m² vs. 26.5 kg/m²), lower HbA1c (7% vs. 7.3%), lower body fat mass (18.9 kg vs. 23.5 kg) and a lower rate of metabolic syndrome (54% vs. 68%).
In multivariate logistic regression analysis, married adults were 50% less likely to develop overweight; results persisted after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, beta-cell function, insulin use and exercise frequency (OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.28-0.87). Men who lived with their spouse were 58% less likely to develop metabolic syndrome (adjusted OR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.18-0.95), whereas women who lived with their spouse showed no risk reduction (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.51-3.39).
The researchers noted that information about the relationship between the patients and their spouses was not available and was not included in possible confounders. – by Regina Schaffer
Reference:
Kondo Y, et al. Poster #894. Presented at: 52nd EASD Annual Meeting; Sept. 12-16, 2016; Munich.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.