Obesity, Diabetes Higher in Socioeconomically Deprived Regions

A recent study shows how those living in socioeconomically deprived regions are more likely to be affected by diabetes mellitus and obesity.

According to researchers from the Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (HMGU) and the Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin, residents of socioeconomically deprived regions often suffer disproportionately from diabetes and obesity-two health issues that often go hand and hand.

"Regional factors, such as the population's average income, unemployment or quality of the living environment can affect the health of all inhabitants, regardless of the educational level of the individual people," said lead study author Werner Maier, via a press release.

For the study, researchers examined data from over 33,000 people ages 30 and up who participated in the RKI's German telephone health interview surveys "German Health Update (GEDA)" in 2009 and 2010.

Researchers studied the data based on the "German Index of Multiple Deprivation" (GIMD) that is formed from regionally available information on employment, education, income, municipal or district revenue, social capital, environment and security in defined areas. A data analysis also considered individual risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), sex, age, smoking status, education, physical activity and whether the individual was living with a partner.

Results showed that most deprived regions suffered from a frequency of type 2 diabetes at 8.6 percent with a 16.9 percent obesity rate, compared to 5.8 and 13.7 percent, respectively, among those in less impoverished areas.

Overall, researchers found that those living in areas of greater poverty were at a 20 percent greater probability to suffer from type 2 diabetes than men and women in the least deprived regions. And for obesity, the risk was 30 percent higher. For women, this was particularly true. Background information from the study notes that for men living in areas of greater poverty, they may not be affected by an increased risk of obesity. However, the same was not true for diabetes.

"Our results point out the significance of regional factors in association with common health problems such as diabetes mellitus and obesity in Germany", said Dr. Andreas Mielck from the HMGU, via the release. "Previous investigations in this area were frequently distorted by individual socioeconomic status, or only used data from a particular region or from outside Germany."

Werner Maier adds, "Area-based risk factors such as material and social deprivation are an important starting point in order to develop effective region-specific preventive measures."

Statistics show that close to six million people over the age of 18 are currently affected by diabetes mellitus in Germany, with more than twice as many adults suffering from obesity. (In the United States, the number of adults affected by diabetes is 25.8 million or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population.) 

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal PLOS One.