Relationships between physical activity, obesity and diabetes mellitus in a French elderly population: the POLA study

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationships between body mass index, waist circ umference, waist-to-hip ratio, physical activity and the risk of type 2 dia betes in a French elderly population. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 1113 men and 1 419 women aged 60y or more, participating in the POLA Study. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes was two-fold higher in men than in wome n (19.1% and 9.3%, respectively). The anthropometric variables studied - bo dy mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and the waist/hip ratio (WHR) - were all positively related to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. The st rongest relationships were found for BMI in men and WHR in women. In both g enders, sport activity and diabetes were inversely linked whereas no relati onship was shown between the amount of household activity and diabetes mell itus. CONCLUSION: In the elderly, overall obesity in men and abdominal fat accumu lation in women appeared strongly related to diabetes. Sport activity was n egatively and independently associated with the prevalence of diabetes mell itus.