Importance of anthropometry in assessing insulin resistance as a pre-alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome: a study among apparently healthy subjects

Abstract

Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are inter-related causes of metabolic syndrome. Early identification before the onset of metabolic syndrome will be useful to lead a healthy life. The purpose of the present study was to identify the importance of IR before the onset of metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy, non-diabetics subjects. Data of 227 apparently healthy non-diabetics (20-70 years) who reside in a suburban area in Colombo district, Sri Lanka, were recruited for this study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (ver.17). Majority were females (61.8 %). Prevalence of IR was 59.9 %. Mean BMI of IR subjects was 28.3±2.7 kg m −2 where 75.3 % of obese had IR. All anthropometric variables except height had significant positive correlations (P<0.01) with IR. Linear regression analysis indicated that BMI is useful in predicting IR while logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and WC are the best predictors of IR in males whereas it was WHtR and WC in females. Even though study subjects were apparently healthy and not diagnosed as diabetes, those with elevated anthropometric parameters had higher prevalence of IR. Best anthropometric predictors of IR for a specific sex should be used as an easy self-monitoring alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome.

Gestational diabetes in women with obesity; an analysis of clinical history and simple clinical/anthropometric measures

“…The relationship between mid-arm circumference and GDM may reflect a simple translatable surrogate for BMI measurement in pregnancy [41] and in non-pregnant individuals is associated with insulin resistance [42]. Neither wrist circumference, which has been positively correlated with T2DM in non-pregnant women with obesity [43], nor thigh circumference, previously negatively linked with cardiovascular risk factors in non-pregnant women with obesity [44], were associated with the development of GDM in this cohort.…”

Effect of Demographic Status and Lifestyle Habits on Glycaemic Levels in Apparently Healthy Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Furthermore, diabetes has become a significant health issue in Southeast Asia due to rapid development and global shift of the population. Moreover, due to rapidly rising rates of metabolic syndrome, there is an increase prevalence of early onset T2D [4, 5]. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the prevalence of diabetes in South Asia is estimated to be 8.3% in 2011 [2, 6].…”

“…According to the International Diabetes Federation, the prevalence of diabetes in South Asia is estimated to be 8.3% in 2011 [2, 6]. Incidence of diabetes in Sri Lanka was found to be approximately 11% in 2010 where 36% were previously undiagnosed [4, 7, 8]. The incidence of prediabetes in Sri Lanka was estimated as 11.5% in 2005/2006 [9].…”