The prevalence of polyneuropathy is high in obese individuals, even those with normoglycemia, a recent study found, and diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity are the likely metabolic drivers of this neuropathy. Researchers performed a cross-sectional, observational study from November 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, in 102 obese participants (body mass index of 35 or more with no comorbid conditions or 32 or more with at least 1 comorbid condition) from a weight management program and 53 lean controls from a research website. They found:

• The prevalence of polyneuropathy was 3.8% in lean controls (n=2), 11.1% in the obese participants with normoglycemia (n=5), 29% in the obese participants with prediabetes (n=9), and 34.6% in the obese participants with diabetes (n=9).
• Age, diabetes, and waist circumference were significantly associated with neuropathy in multivariable models.
• Prediabetes was not significantly associated with neuropathy.