The magnitude of association between overweight and obesity and the risk of diabetes: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Abstract
The objectives of this meta-analysis were to examine the magnitude of the relative risk (RR) of developing type 2 diabetes for overweight and obese populations, compared to those with normal weight, and to determine causes of the variation in RR between various cohort studies. The magnitude of the RR was analyzed by combining 18 prospective cohort studies that matched defined criteria. The variance in RR between studies was explored. The overall RR of diabetes for obese persons compared to those with normal weight was 7.19, 95% CI: 5.74, 9.00 and for overweight was 2.99, 95% CI: 2.42, 3.72. The variation in RR among studies was explored and it was found that the effect of heterogeneity was highly related with sample size, method of assessment of body mass index (BMI) and method of ascertainment of type 2 diabetes. By combining only cohort studies with more than 400 cases of incident diabetes (>median), adjusted by at least three main confounding variables (age, family history of type 2 diabetes, physical activity), measured BMI, and diabetes determined by clinical diagnosis, the RR was 7.28, 95% CI: 6.47, 8.28 for obesity and 2.92, 95% CI: 2.57, 3.32 for overweight.
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Weight loss is a strong diabetes risk factor.
“a strong diabetes risk factor (12,13)”
From Global diabetes prevention interventions: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of the real-world impact on incidence, weight, and glucose (2018) · cites this paper as [12]
Weight loss is important for diabetes prevention.
“We also found that every additional kilogram of weight lost was associated with lower diabetes incidence, supporting the premise that weight loss is important for diabetes prevention (12,13).”
From Global diabetes prevention interventions: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of the real-world impact on incidence, weight, and glucose (2018) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Abdullah, A., Peeters, A., de Courten, M., & Stoelwinder, J.
- Affiliations
- Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh (ID)
- Monash University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Abdullah, Asnawi
- Venue
- Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 309-319
- ISSN
- 0168-8227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2089490997
- Cited by
- 824
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 73 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 76 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 2.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Agency for International Development
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Keywords
- type 2 diabetes, obesity, overweight, body mass index, relative risk, new-onset diabetes, study heterogeneity, sample size, confounding, physical activity, family history of diabetes
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Prospective Studies, Body Mass Index, Overweight, Young Adult
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