A new study has revealed that increase in obesity cases has also contributed in boosting the prevalence of diabetes.

An increase in body mass index (BMI) over time is the most important factor contributing to the observed increase in diabetes prevalence since 1976.

Diabetes has been one of the most common and costly chronic disorders in the United States. Researchers analyzed data from five National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys to determine the extent to which the increase in diabetes prevalence was explained by changing distributions of race/ethnicity, age, and obesity prevalence in U.S. adults.

They found that the prevalence of diabetes nearly doubled from 1976 to 1980 and also from 1999 to 2004. During both time periods, diabetes prevalence increased more in men than in women. The increase of certain risk factors, including BMI, race and ethnicity, and age, coincided with an increased incidence of diabetes, with BMI being the greatest contributor among the three covariates.

The researchers suggest that public health efforts should focus on interventions that address obesity. The increased prevalence of diabetes among men could not be explained by an increased BMI in men. Researchers suggest that future research should investigate what additional factors may contribute to the faster rise in diabetes in men than in women.

The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.