BMI, Body Fat, and Abnormal Blood Glucose

May 15, 2018
Gregory M. Weiss, MD

New study finds higher percentage of body fat is associated more with abnormal blood glucose in normal and overweight nondiabetic subjects. 

Ara Jo, PhD, MS and Arch Mainous, PhD, at the University of Florida looked at body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (%BF) in nondiabetic subjects and found that higher %BF was associated more with abnormal blood glucose (ABG) in normal weight subjects as well as overweight participants. Thumb through the slides for details on the study and take home messages for physicians.For more information: Jo A, Mainous AG. Informational value of percent body fat with body mass index for the risk of  abnormal blood glucose: a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2018;8. 

BMI, Body Fat, and Abnormal Blood Glucose

BMI, Diabetes, and % Body Fat. Authors of the study sought to determine how BMI and %BF relate to ABG in an effort to form better classifications. 

The Study. The primary outcome in this nationally representative cross-sectional study was ABG including prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes and A1c ≥5.7%. 

The Results. More than 40% of the study population with low %BF performed vigorous-intensity activity as well as muscle strengthening activity compared with population with high %BF (P<.001).

Take Home Messages: 

  • Using BMI in isolation may misclassify as high-risk for diabetes patients who have a higher weight, but low %BF.
  • Patient activity, muscle mass, body composition, and weight should be taken into account when risk stratifying them for glucose disturbances.
  • Normal weight patients with high %BF should be screened for prediabetes and diabetes.
  • Integrating BMI and %BF in practice can prevent misclassifying patients who are actually at low risk for ABG levels as high risk.
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