[The characteristics of glucose tolerance in obesity]

In 151 obese patients an oral glucose tolerance test was carried out. In 118 patients (mean relative body mass 161.5 +/- 39%) the test was normal. In 33 patients (mean relative body mass 167 +/- 32.1%) the glucose tolerance was decreased. In these patients the mean duration of the pathologic overmass was 15.2 +/- 4.8 years. 4 basic types of curves of pathologic tolerance are described. Obesity in men is significantly more frequently complicated with pathologic glucose tolerance than in women (42.2% vs 15.5%). The great variety of glucose tolerance curves in the obese patient is probably related to various types of response of the insulin secretion and the contrainsular mechanisms.