Low birthweight is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japanese adults: The Toon Health Study

Aims/Introduction Low birthweight is reportedly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, this association has not been confirmed in the Japanese population, and whether high birthweight is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus is controversial. We aimed to investigate the association between birthweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus among a general Japanese population. Materials and Methods Overall 1,135 middle‐ to old‐aged Japanese men and women were enrolled in the Toon Health Study. A 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test was used to diagnose type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a questionnaire survey about birthweight was administered. The association between birthweight and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in later life of the participants was examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Stratified analysis by current body mass index was also carried out. Results The mean age was 56.5 ± 12.2 years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was observed in 9.3% of the participants in this study. Compared with the reference group (2,500–3,999 g), the adjusted odds ratio of the low‐birthweight group (