Racial Disparity in the Diagnosis of Obesity among People with Diabetes

Abstract

Studies have suggested that many of the estimated 30.5% of all adults, and 54.8% of adults with diabetes, who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater do not have a diagnosis of obesity. The records of 265 people with diabetes in the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Charleston community were audited for race, sex, BMI, and a documentation of obesity, to determine the likelihood of a diagnosis of obesity for people with BMI of 30 or greater, based on race and sex. Significant differences in diagnosis were observed by race, with three times as many records of obese White people with diabetes containing a diagnosis of obesity as of diabetic African Americans. Disparities in prevalence of obesity based on a BMI of 30 or greater were observed as well, with a higher proportion of African Americans meeting the criteria. Studies suggest that these disparities may contribute to the increased burden of disease experienced by African Americans with diabetes.