Influence of Physical Activity, Mediterranean Diet, Smoking, and Different Sociodemographic Variables on the Prevalence of Diabesity

Abstract

Background: Diabesity is a pathological entity that encompasses the presence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the same individual and, as occurs with both entities, its prevalence is increasing in industrialized countries. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of healthy habits and sociodemographic variables on the occurrence of diabesity. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study in 1457 Spanish workers in which the influence of healthy habits such as physical exercise determined with the International. Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and tobacco consumption were assessed, as well as sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and social class on the prevalence of diabesity. Results: The prevalence of diabesity determined with seven scales increased as the level of physical activity decreased and adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreased. In the multivariate analysis, the variables that most influenced the appearance of diabesity were, in order, age over 50 years, male sex, and low or moderate physical activity. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet also had an inverse influence on diabesity, although the results obtained were not always significant; while tobacco consumption, Mediterranean diet, and social class II-III had no influence on almost any scale. Conclusions: Age is the risk factor that most increases the risk of diabesity, followed by the male sex.