Prevalence and Impact of Weight Self Stigmatization on Type II Diabetes Glycemic and Cardiovascular Markers Control

Khaled A. Alswat, Reem Waslallah Alsuwat, Kholoud Metaeb Aljaed and Daif Allah M. Almalki

Background and Objective: Patients with Type II Diabetes (T2D) are at high risk for developing serious diabetes related complications. The primary study goal was to assess the weight stigma among our T2D patients and its relation to various diabetes and cardiovascular related markers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out for adult T2D patients whom had a routine clinic visit between the period of May-August, 2019. Validated Weight Self Stigma (WSS) Questionnaire was used and those with a total score of >30 points were considered at increased risk of stigmatization. Study included a total of 663 T2D patients with a mean age of 57.3±22.0 years, mostly female with long standing diabetes and a mean BMI in the overweight range. Results: About 45.6% of the sample were considered to have high risk for self-stigmatization. Compared to those whom considered to have low risk for self-stigmatization, those who were high risk were mostly female (p 0.046), have longer T2D duration (p 0.161), higher BMI and higher systolic blood pressure (p<0.001 and 0.006), lower diastolic blood pressure (p 0.004), higher resting heart rate (p 0.002), more likely to be divorced (p 0.046), higher educational level and income (both p<0.001), have retinopathy and neuropathy (p<0.001 and 0.009) and exercise more than 150 min/week if physically active (p<0.001). Conclusion: High risk self-stigmatization was highly prevalent among T2D patients’ sample. It was also associated with worsening in some of the measured cardiovascular markers and having more microvascular complications despite the comparable HbA1c and lipid profiles.

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