Body Fat Matters

A new American study, published in The BMJ, has shown that body fat distribution in addition to body mass index (BMI) is an important determinant for calculating the risk of prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. The study looked at people over the age of 40. Their body fat percentage, BMI and blood glucose levels were measured from 1999-2006. The results showed that 13.5 per cent of participants with normal BMI and high body fat percentage developed prediabetes as opposed to 10.5 per cent those who had high BMI but low body fat. The study concluded that people with a normal BMI and high body fat are more likely to develop prediabetes and eventually Type 2 Diabetes as compared with those whose BMI is classed as overweight but who have a low body fat percentage.