Waist-to-hip ratio better reflect beta-cell function and predicts diabetes risk in adult with overweight or obesity

Objective Controversy remains as to which obesity measures better predict type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in overweight or obese individuals. The objective of this study is to determine which commonly used obesity measures better reflect beta cell function and predict T2D risk in participants with overwe...

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Main Authors: Na Liu, Bian Wang, Guanxiong Zhang, Minxue Shen, Peng Cheng, Zhanjun Guo, Linhui Zuo, Junya Yang, Min Guo, Min Wang, Zhenqi Liu, Jing Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Annals of Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2462447
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Summary:Objective Controversy remains as to which obesity measures better predict type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in overweight or obese individuals. The objective of this study is to determine which commonly used obesity measures better reflect beta cell function and predict T2D risk in participants with overweight or obesity and to validate the findings using prospective cohort data.Patients and methods Cross-sectional data from the Obesity Clinic of the Xiangya Hospital of the Central South University and prospective cohort from UK Biobank. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were measured. Primary outcomes included beta cell function indices in the cross-sectional study and the occurrence of diabetes obtained from UK Biobank data.Results One thousand four hundred and ninety-seven participants with overweight or obesity (median age 29 years, 41% males) and 322,023 UK Biobank participants without diabetes at baseline (mean age 56.83 years, 50.4% males) were studied. WHpR had a stronger association with beta cell function and central body fat distribution than the other three obesity measures irrespective of glucometabolic states. WHpR associated positively with diabetes risk in participants using the hazard ratio scale (HR per SD increase of WHpR, 2.311, 95% CI 2.250–2.374).Conclusions WHpR is a superior index in reflecting central body obesity, estimating beta cell function, and predicting T2D risk in people with overweight or obesity compared to BMI, WC, and WHtR.
ISSN:0785-3890
1365-2060