Objective
Ethnic minority status and obesity are two independent risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D). There is no clear understanding of how they may have interacted and influenced disparities in T2D prevalence over time. This study examined the trends in racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of T2D by weight status among US adults.
Methods
We used nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) I (1971–1975), II (1976–80), and III (1988–1994), and 1999–2004 among 49,574 adults aged 20–74 years. The prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed T2D were estimated by race/ethnicity groups (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American) and body mass index (BMI) groups (normal, 18.5–24.9; overweight, 25–29.9; obese, 30–34.9; severely obese, >=35). We used logistic regression controlling for age, gender, and education to estimate the odd ratio of T2D across race/ethnicity and BMI groups.
Results
Trends in racial/ethnic disparities in prevalence of diagnosed T2D varied by BMI. Normal weight group saw increasing racial disparities. In the overweight group, ethnic disparities worsened as diabetes prevalence increased 33.3% in whites, compared to 60.0% in blacks and 227.3% in Mexican Americans. Minimal racial/ethnic disparities were observed in obese and severely obese groups over time. In contrast to diagnosed diabetes, overall racial/ethnic disparities in undiagnosed T2D declined in all BMI groups.
Conclusions
Racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes prevalence have become most pronounced among normal and overweight groups. Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes will require prevention efforts not only in obese minority individuals, but also in normal and overweight minority individuals.