The International Diabetes Federation¹ posits that rising diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence remain a public health concern and the second cause of mortality in South Africa (SA).² In 2019, Africa had approximately 19 million adults aged 20–79 years personally diagnosed or living with diabetes. South Africa has the highest number of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (estimated at 4.6 million),¹ but only 2 million people have been diagnosed.^3,4 Africa has the greatest proportion of undiagnosed diabetics and projections suggest it will experience the greatest future increase in the burden of DM of 156% by 2045.⁵

Obesity is central to DM prevalence and one of the main predisposing factors for all non-communicable diseases (NCDs).⁶ Obesity has emerged as a public health concern with global prevalence of 2 billion adults being overweight, and of those, 650 million are considered to be obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²).⁷ In Africa, SA is amongst the countries with the highest obesity prevalence.⁸ A South African study has reported that 56%, 49% and 75% of white men, African men and women were overweight or obese, respectively.⁹ Obesity prevalence amongst Africans was attributed to cultural attitudes towards fatness.⁸ It was found that culture affects body image and size perceptions from an early age and that exclusive body shape and weight ideals are recognised amongst different cultures.¹⁰ African women regard overweight as being rich, healthy, of good strength and fertility,¹¹ including being beautiful and attractive⁸ and also of normal weight.¹² Therefore, these could be the fuelling factors for increasing obesity and overweight levels in Africa. The increase of disposable income resulting in more money being spent on high energy-dense foods is the key factor in the rise in obesity in SA, as in the rest of the world. Another South African study reported a higher prevalence of obesity amongst urban women, compared with rural women¹³ and attributed these to reduced intake of fatty food, lower household income and higher physical activity.¹³ Obesity may additionally result from poor eating habits and physical inactivity.¹⁴ It has been reported that relentless obesity upsets metabolic processes that control blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids.^15,16

The fact that the incidence of diabetes is rising so rapidly with changes in eating habits and lifestyle suggests that genetic and hereditary elements are of much less importance than diet and behaviour changes. It was determined that obesity and diabetes have strong environmental components, inclusive of diet and physical activity. Family members share similar genetical backgrounds and often similar environmental and lifestyle factors affecting their health. Therefore, family history of diabetes and occurrence of obesity may guide population-appropriate health promoting activities.^17,18,19 The environmental risk factors associated with diabetes include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, small or large birth weight and stress.²⁰ However, these environmental factors impact people differently; some people are more susceptible to diabetes and risks are inherited.²¹ The lifetime risk of developing diabetes is 70% amongst individuals with father and mother diagnosed with diabetes compared with 40% of those with one parent.²² Non-diabetic family members of patients are predisposed because of the existing family history of DM.²² It is far too easy to blame genetics, when the problem is really the lifestyle behaviours – a diet deficient in fibre, ultra-processed foods, high in saturated fats and animal proteins, together with lack of physical activity. It is important to address these, even if it is not ‘politically expedient’, as this kind of diet is seen as a sign of social upward mobility. A healthy eating and increased physical activity can counteract these genetic effects.¹⁷ Individuals with a family history of diabetes are three times more likely to develop diabetes than those without a family history.²³ Rural areas such as Senwabarwana in the Limpopo province of SA, have been progressively urbanised,²⁴ which has led to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles resulting in high incidences of obesity that contributes to poor diabetes outcomes and complications.^6,25 It was found that higher BMI amongst diabetes patients is associated with diabetic complications such as cardiovascular diseases.²⁶ This article aimed at determining prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst patients with diabetes and their non-diabetic family members.

A United States prospective cohort study revealed that higher BMI values are associated with diabetes complications and risks of T2DM.³¹ This study is similar to the 2016 WHO⁷ report, which indicated that 39% of adults with or without diseases were overweight because 34% and 40% of patients and family members in our study were found to be overweight. However, in contrast our findings surpass the estimated 13% obesity rates because 57% of patients with diabetes and 38% of family members were obese. Our findings are similar to the Ugandan retrospective study, which reported a high prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst T2DM patients.³² It has been reported that overweight and obesity amongst patients with diabetes increase burden of disease and poor outcomes.³³ Five longitudinal cohort studies conducted have pointed out that overweight or obese patients with diabetes are at a twofold higher risk of mortality compared with those with normal BMI.^33,34 In addition, overweight and obesity amongst patients with diabetes increase the likelihoods of suboptimal glycaemic control.^33,35 Furthermore, it has been reported that obesity contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome whose other components besides hyperglycaemic include hypertension, dyslipidaemia, proinflammatory and prothrombotic state.³⁵ Higher BMI amongst both patients and family members can be attributed to sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Lack of commitment to addressing weight management contributes significantly to rising obesity levels. Healthcare providers need to commit to this task. Without urgent intervention, such as dietary and exercise modification, overweight patients may become obese and subsequently increase their risk for diabetes complications and increased mortality.^2,36 Urgent dietary and exercise modifications include application of 5-A’s methods of effective counselling and behaviour change, which are: (1) assess health behaviours (understand in depth what is going on); (2) advise to change with clear, specific, personalised advice; (3) agree on focus of treatment based on patient’s priorities; (4) assist patient in setting and achieving goals; and (5) arrange regular follow-up and support. This is patient-centred, collaborative approach and thus it is associated with greater patient motivation to change behaviour.³⁷

Our study has found out that 78% of family members are either overweight or obese, which further increase chances of developing diabetes, considering family history of diabetes. Diabetes screening is the crucial strategy for early detection of the disease for better management.³³ Therefore, there is a need to screen family members for diabetes and comorbidities. Apart from diabetes, overweight and obesity amongst non-diabetic population is associated with hypertension,³⁸ low quality of life,³⁹ cardiovascular diseases,⁴⁰ breathing problems,³⁹ complications of pregnancy⁴¹ and depression.⁴¹

Adiposity is related to poor diabetes control and risk of diabetes.⁴² We found that most patients with diabetes and 58% of family members had abdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity amongst patients with diabetes is strongly associated with comorbid conditions, particularly hypertension.⁴³ Most patients (75.5%) in our study declared that they have additional disease other than diabetes, and hypertension was the most occurring comorbid condition (89%), which affirms association of adiposity with comorbidity amongst patients with diabetes. Moreover, the presence of comorbid conditions worsens the Quality of Life (QoL).⁴⁴ Nonetheless, this study did not ask for comorbid condition amongst family members. Our study showed that over half of non-diabetic family members had abdominal obesity. It has been found that people with higher WC levels have 5–7 times higher chances of having T2DM.⁴⁵

The benefits of weight loss amongst T2DM had shown to improve glycaemic control, with severe calorie restriction even reversing the progression of T2DM.⁴⁶ Moreover, weight loss amongst patients with diabetes provides benefits that positively impacts treatment and control of metabolic parametres.⁴⁷ Weight loss is also found to be associated with reduced chances of cardiovascular risks amongst patients with diabetes.⁴⁸ A weight loss of about 7% reduces the risk of developing diabetes by 60%.^49,50 Additional benefits of losing weight include reduced blood pressure, vascular resistance, total blood volume and cardiac output, improvement in insulin resistance and reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity.⁴⁸ World Health Organization,⁵¹ recommends preventative interventions in diabetes management. Preventative healthcare is cost-effective and cheaper compared with treatment care.⁵² The Department of Health should invest more resources in preventative measures characterised by physical activity and healthy eating⁷ to minimise diabetes complications and new cases, respectively. However, healthcare providers are particularly encouraged to be innovative, passionate and care enough to develop small pilot projects to identify factors contributing to diabetes and obesity in their areas, to devise practical strategies to bring about change. It is fundamentally important for clinics to start by convening a brainstorming session with health team consisting of nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, social workers, hospital administrators, community leaders and a group patient with diabetes to come up with ideas for pilot projects. The brainstorming session may help in identifying local skills like local chefs who may be interested in developing healthy recipes that are culturally and economically appropriate and recruited to teach cooking classes. The dieticians may be able to identify healthy food options for the chefs to prepare. Equally, physical trainers or bio kinetics can be involved for exercise lessons with the guidance of physiotherapists. The involvement of communities will enable business persons in the area to also take part by funding cooking and exercise classes. Additionally, patients with diabetes with some significant changes in their weight and diabetes through lifestyle changes can be recruited to talk to patients waiting in the diabetic clinic about how they achieved their success.

From this study, we conclude that evidence from various studies suggest that non-diabetic family members of patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with DM as they already are obese just like patients with diabetes.^21,22 Therefore, there is an immediate need for primary healthcare facilities to partner with family members in the care for patients with diabetes for better control, reduction of complications and minimising new cases. Patients with diabetes are obese and suffer from comorbidities, which leads to poor quality of life whilst family members are at an increased risk of developing diabetes. As such, it is recommended that family members must be screened for diabetes and comorbidities. It is also important to create conducive environment that discourages sedentary behaviours through lifestyle dietary and exercise modifications to minimise chances of overweight patients and family members progressing to the development of NCDs. Diabetes education should be strengthened and include empowering both patients and their family members with nutrition and exercise management for better outcomes.