L O Schulz1, R C Weidensee. 1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA. lschulz@sahpserver.sahp.uwm.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess diabetes prevalence and physical activity among an indigenous population in Mexico. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 101 adult (mean age = 38 years) Mixtec Indians living on the outskirts of Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca, Mexico, volunteered to be measured for height, weight, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and physical activity. RESULTS: According to World Health Organization criteria, 2 women were diabetic and 42 subjects (15 men, 27 women) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Although the population was generally lean, with a mean +/- SD body mass index (BMI) of 23.0 +/- 2.7 kg/m2 for men (n = 47) and 22.8 +/- 3.0 kg/m2 for women (n = 54), the group with normal glucose tolerance had a significantly lower BMI than those with abnormal glucose tolerance (IGT or diabetes). Men were significantly more physically active than women, and a larger percentage of women (54%) than men (32%) had abnormal glucose tolerance. However, within gender groups, there was not a significant effect of physical activity on status of glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: The Mixtec population may be genetically predisposed to non-insulin-dependent diabetes, although their current lifestyle provides a protective effect. Less of a protective effect is seen for females, however. It is expected that further environmental changes impacting energy balance will have the most damaging repercussions for diabetes prevalence among Mixtec women.
OBJECTIVE: To assess diabetes prevalence and physical activity among an indigenous population in Mexico. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 101 adult (mean age = 38 years) Mixtec Indians living on the outskirts of Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca, Mexico, volunteered to be measured for height, weight, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and physical activity. RESULTS: According to World Health Organization criteria, 2 women were diabetic and 42 subjects (15 men, 27 women) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Although the population was generally lean, with a mean +/- SD body mass index (BMI) of 23.0 +/- 2.7 kg/m2 for men (n = 47) and 22.8 +/- 3.0 kg/m2 for women (n = 54), the group with normal glucose tolerance had a significantly lower BMI than those with abnormal glucose tolerance (IGT or diabetes). Men were significantly more physically active than women, and a larger percentage of women (54%) than men (32%) had abnormal glucose tolerance. However, within gender groups, there was not a significant effect of physical activity on status of glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: The Mixtec population may be genetically predisposed to non-insulin-dependent diabetes, although their current lifestyle provides a protective effect. Less of a protective effect is seen for females, however. It is expected that further environmental changes impacting energy balance will have the most damaging repercussions for diabetes prevalence among Mixtec women.
Authors: Annette E Maxwell; Sandra Young; Catherine M Crespi; Roena Rabelo Vega; Reggie T Cayetano; Roshan Bastani Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2015-02-03