BMI vs Diabetes
Disciplines
Public Health
Abstract (300 words maximum)
One of the most pressing public health concerns in the U.S. has been how “obesity has been associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.” Obesity can cause diabetes often linked to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. The study conducted utilizes data from the CDC’s 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), to explore the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and diabetes rate. The primary goal of the CDC’s data is to determine whether the Body Mass Index has a significantly relevant relationship with the probability of developing diabetes. The study hypothesizes that individuals with diabetes have a higher BMI. Additionally, it will be evaluated that secondary variables—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age, heart disease, and physical activity, will either contribute to or modify this association. Specifically, individuals with diabetes and conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease, are predicted to show a higher BMI. The BRFSS contained over 70,000 observations on variables such as age, BMI, physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes status. Both continuous and categorical data were analyzed using statistical methods to assess the relationship between these variables. Following the hypothesis, it’s anticipated that the results will show a positive association between higher BMI, diabetes, and the secondary variables diagnosis, aligning with previous research linking obesity to diseases such as hypertension, and cancers. The results of the study could lead to valuable conclusions about strategies targeting obesity and lowering BMIs to reduce the risk of diabetes. With this study, it could address methods to reduce BMI to lower the risk of other chronic conditions as well.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Health Promotion and Physical Education
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kevin Gittner
BMI vs Diabetes
One of the most pressing public health concerns in the U.S. has been how “obesity has been associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.” Obesity can cause diabetes often linked to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. The study conducted utilizes data from the CDC’s 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), to explore the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and diabetes rate. The primary goal of the CDC’s data is to determine whether the Body Mass Index has a significantly relevant relationship with the probability of developing diabetes. The study hypothesizes that individuals with diabetes have a higher BMI. Additionally, it will be evaluated that secondary variables—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age, heart disease, and physical activity, will either contribute to or modify this association. Specifically, individuals with diabetes and conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease, are predicted to show a higher BMI. The BRFSS contained over 70,000 observations on variables such as age, BMI, physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes status. Both continuous and categorical data were analyzed using statistical methods to assess the relationship between these variables. Following the hypothesis, it’s anticipated that the results will show a positive association between higher BMI, diabetes, and the secondary variables diagnosis, aligning with previous research linking obesity to diseases such as hypertension, and cancers. The results of the study could lead to valuable conclusions about strategies targeting obesity and lowering BMIs to reduce the risk of diabetes. With this study, it could address methods to reduce BMI to lower the risk of other chronic conditions as well.