Studying the Relationship Between Obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus with Demographic, Behavioral, and Genetic Factors Among Children in Benghazi City in Libya

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) and its association with demographic, behavioral, and genetic factors among in children from Benghazi city, Libya. The study included 104 children (aged 3–15 years) with a confirmed T2DM diagnosis. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire and HbA1c blood tests. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software employing Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results revealed that behavioral factors including frequent consumption of fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets combined with low levels of physical activity and shorter sleep duration were strongly associated with T2DM and obesity (p < 0.001). In contrast, demographic factors such as sex, age, and family history of obesity or diabetes did not show significant association with the conditions in this cohort. A significant correlation was confirmed between HbA1c levels and T2DM (r = -0.56, p < 0.001), reinforcing its role as a key diagnostic indicator.