Introduction: Obesity is a major contributor to the T2DM epidemic. The Lifetime risk ofT2DM is highest (86.0% [76.6, 91.5]%) among Indian people with obesity.1 We present data on the attitude and perception of T2DM Indian general public toward obesity and its management.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between October to November 2022at 30 diabetes care clinics in western India. Data was collected from consenting male and female subjects in the age group of ≥18 years, using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey data.
Results: A total of 1248 subjects (males: females = 592:658) with a mean (SD) age of44.6 (14.8) years participated in this survey. Out of which 596 (47.8%) were subjects with T2DM, with a mean (SD) BMI of 29.9 (5.7) kg/m2. Out of 596 subjects with T2DM, 203 (34.1%) perceived their weight as normal, 305 (51.2%) as overweight, and 88 (14.8%) as persons with obesity. However, when categorized as per Asia-Pacific guidelines for obesity classification of BMI, 544 (91.4%) subjects with T2DM were found to be, overweight/persons with obesity. Out of these 544 subjects, diet consultations for weight loss 374 (68.8%), followed by gym membership 269 (49.4%) were the top two weight management programs they were aware of and 396 (72.8%) believed that eating less and moving more is a simple formula for weight loss. Though 303 (55.7%) subjects were aware of doctors-prescribed weight loss drugs, only 291 (53.5%) subjects were considering weight management and only 228 (41.9%) were willing to try these medicines. High blood pressure (41.2%) and knee pain/ mobility (12.9%), were the top two co-morbid conditions in subjects with T2DM found to be, overweight/persons with obesity.
Conclusion: This survey revealed that knowledge about of impact of obesity is unsatisfactory in Indian T2DM subjects with overweight/obesity. Educating people about the benefits of weight management interventions can assist subjects with T2DM for optimal outcomes.
S.A.Patange: None. R.M.Rohatgi: None. S.Bhojane: None. B.L.Gonsalves: None. I.S.Hafizi: None. R.R.Yadav: None. R.T.Mulani: None. K.M.Nayak: None. M.H.Patel: None. A.Rajput: None. V.Saboo: None. R.R.Kovil: None. P.Sanghavi: None. S.A.Bagri: None. A.N.Singh: None. S.N.Dbritto: None. A.A.Jadhav: None. D.H.Punatar: None. A.R.Kothari: None. S.A.Aversekar: None. M.H.Patel: None. R.M.Surya shaikh: None. S.R.Tanna: None. I.Kuberan: None. T.P.Shah: None. A.S.Patange: None. D.Padhye: None. S.A.Karkhanis: None. A.R.Sanghvi: None. A.P.Gandhi: None.
