Comparison of subcutaneous, visceral, liver and muscle fat depots in relation to prevalent and incident diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Visceral fat showed a stronger association with diabetes than did other fat depots, highlighting the central role of visceral fat in the development of diabetes.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants with an imaging visit, without T1D at that visit; mean age 66 years, 52% women
- Participants
- 44,857 participants
- Exposure
- Four MRI-measured fat depots in relation to diabetes
- Outcome
- Prevalent diabetes (logistic regression, OR) and incident diabetes captured by hospitalizations (Cox regression, HR)
- Follow-up
- Median 3.6 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, MRI-measured fat depots
- UK Biobank
- MRI-measured fat depots
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident diabetes, HR per SD increase, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity and BMI
| Group | HR |
|---|---|
| Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) | 2.44 (95% CI 1.91-3.11) |
| Liver fat (LF) | 1.75 (95% CI 1.56-1.97) |
| Muscle fat infiltration (MFI) | 1.14 (95% CI 0.98-1.34) |
| Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) | 0.80 (95% CI 0.63-1.02) |
HR
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT)2.44 (95% CI 1.91-3.11)
Liver fat (LF)1.75 (95% CI 1.56-1.97)
Muscle fat infiltration (MFI)1.14 (95% CI 0.98-1.34)
Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT)0.80 (95% CI 0.63-1.02)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalent and incident diabetes, age-, sex- and ethnicity-adjusted
- Prevalent diabetes
- 2428
- Hospitalized with incident diabetes, of 42 429 free of diabetes
- 252
- ASAT, VAT, LF and MFI all associated with higher likelihood of having or developing diabetes
Original publication
Comparison of subcutaneous, visceral, liver and muscle fat depots in relation to prevalent and incident diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 18 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →