The Relationship of Diabetes with Race, Sex, and Obesity

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes typically has its onset in the adult years, and appears to have both genetic and non-genetic factors in its etiology. Data from the 1976 National Health Interview Survey were used to study the independent and interactive relationship of race, sex, obesity, and age with the reported prevalence of noninsulin-dependent diabetes. The percent of the population reported with this type of diabetes ranged from about 0.5 among Black and Caucasian (white) people of both sexes 20-44 years of age in the least obese group to 20.2 percent among black males 65 years and over in the most obese group. Black people were slightly more likely to report diabetes than white people, especially at the older ages and in the more obese groups. Diabetes generally increased more rapidly with obesity among women than among men, but there was no other consistent sex difference. Diabetes was reported more frequently with increasing levels of obesity, especially at the older age.