Relative Fat Mass strongly predicts new-onset Type 2 Diabetes

The researchers said that this could be used routinely in the general practice setting for estimating the future risk of diabetes.

Obesity is a global public health challenge. Along with the rising rate of obesity, the incidence of chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes (T2D) has also increased. BMI measurement is most common for screening for obesity.

Relative fat mass (RFM) estimates the whole-body fat percentage. It is sex-specific and relatively easy to calculate. This obesity index reflects the whole body fat percentage more accurately than BMI.

There need to be more large-scale studies that examine the predictive value of RFM in the general population for new-onset Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

Navin Suthahan and colleagues postulated that RFM would be a stronger predictor of new-onset T2D.

The team assessed associations of RFM, body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with incident T2D in the PREVEND cohort. The results were compared with those from the LifeLines and Rotterdam studies.

The study summary is given below:

• The researchers collected data from three Dutch community-based cohorts free of baseline diabetes, namely, the PREVEND cohort (median age 48 years and follow-up duration of 12.5 years), Lifelines (median age and follow-up duration: 45.5 and 3.8 years) and Rotterdam (median age 68 years and follow-up duration of 13.9 years) cohorts.
• 522 PREVEND participants out of 7961, constituting 6.6 %, developed T2D.
• All adiposity indices were associated with incident T2D significantly (multivariable model).
• 1 SD increase in BMI, WHR and WC increases the risk of developing T2D by 68%, 77% and 61%.
• The Hazard ratio for BMI, WC and WHR was 1.68, 1.77 and 1.61.
• An increase in RFM caused a 119% increased risk of having an HR of 2.19.
• The strongest associations were observed in young individuals < 40 years of age having HR 2.90
• Results were broadly similar in Lifelines and Rotterdam cohorts, n including 93,870 and 5279, respectively.

RFM is strongly associated with new-onset T2D, they wrote.

The researchers concluded, in young individuals, obesity control is essential to reduce the risk of developing T2D in the community

Further reading:

Suthahar, Navin, et al. “Associations of Relative Fat Mass, a New Index of Adiposity, With Type-2 Diabetes in the General Population.” European Journal of Internal Medicine, Elsevier BV, Jan. 2023. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2022.12.024.