Relationship of body fat with insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors among normal glucose-tolerant subjects

Abstract

Background : The amount of body fat, rather than the amount of excess weight, determines the health risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Aims : To look at the association of body fat percentage with cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Settings and Design : Cross-section study from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study. Materials and Methods : Body fat was measured by Beurer body fat analyzer. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was diagnosed based on modified ATPIII guidelines. Statistical Analysis : Student's t test or one-way ANOVA (with Tukey's HSD) was used to compare groups for continuous variables. Results : Body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HOMA IR, serum cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol increased significantly with increasing tertiles of body fat (PPPP<0.001). Conclusions : A significant association exists between body fat, MS, and cardiometabolic risk factors even among subjects with NGT.