Abdominal Obesity and Physical Inactivity as Risk Factors for NIDDM and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Indian, Creole, and Chinese Mauritians

Abstract

These data indicate that BMI, abdominally distributed fat, and physical inactivity are important independent risk factors for both IGT and NIDDM in diverse ethnic groups. Attributable risk fractions for Mauritius suggest that populationwide modification of levels of these risk factors could potentially result in substantially lower occurrence of NIDDM (and IGT). Such interventions should be attempted in high-risk populations.