A multidimensional functional fitness score is a stronger predictor of type 2 diabetes than obesity parameters in cross sectional data

Abstract

Objective: We examine here whether multidimensional functional fitness is a better predictor of type 2 diabetes as compared to morphometric indices of obesity such as body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR).Research design and method: We analysed retrospective data of 663 volunteer participants (285 males and 378 females between age 28 and 84), from an exercise clinic in which every participant routinely undergoes a health related physical fitness (HRPF) assessment consisting of 15 different tasks examining 8 different aspects of functional fitness.Results: The odds of being diabetic in the highest quartile of BMI were not significantly higher than that in the lowest quartile in either of the sexes. The odds of being a diabetic in the highest WHR quartile were significantly greater than the lowest quartile in females (OR = 4.54 (1.95, 10.61) as well as in males (OR = 3.81 (1.75, 8.3). In both sexes the odds of being a diabetic were significantly greater in the lowest quartile of HRPF score than the highest (males OR = 10.52 (4.21, 26.13); females OR = 10.50 (3.53, 31.35)). HRPF was not correlated with BMI in both sexes but was negatively correlated with WHR. After removing confounding, the predictive power of HRPF was significantly greater than that of WHR.Conclusion: Multidimensional functional fitness score was a better predictor of type 2 diabetes than obesity parameters in the Indian population.