Relation between obesity in young adulthood and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

To investigate the independent effect of obesity in young adulthood on the risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Retrospective cohort design. One-thousand, one hundred and five Japanese male railway employees aged 30 y or older who received a health examination from February to May 1995. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for subsequent NIDDM determined by the WHO criteria or a physician's diagnosis, among men who were obese at ages 20, 25, or 30 y. Men who were obese (BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m2) at ages 25 or 30 y had significantly positive ORs for NIDDM after adjustment for age and maximum BMI (8.20 and 3.94, respectively). Men in the top quintile of BMI at any age also had significantly positive ORs for NIDDM (2.13, 7.92, and 3.49, at 20, 25, and 30 y, respectively). After mutual adjustment for BMI at age 20, 25 and 30 y, only obesity at age 25 y demonstrated a significantly positive OR for NIDDM in both absolute and relative models (6.98 for BMI > or = 25.0 and 9.99 for the top quintile, respectively). Men who were obese (BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m2 or top quintile) at age 25 y were at significantly high risk of prevalent NIDDM in subsequent years, independent of age, maximum BMI, and BMIs at age 20 and 30 y.