Progressive increases in adiposity and ectopic fat surrogates across glycaemic states highlight weight reduction as a key target for type 2 diabetes prevention, especially in younger people
Authors' conclusion
Deteriorating glycaemic status was marked by progressively higher levels of adiposity and circulating and hepatic ectopic fat markers. Findings were more pronounced in younger individuals, suggesting a greater role for ectopic fat in their diabetes and reinforcing the importance of weight intervention for preventing the progression from normoglycaemia to prediabetes to frank diabetes.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank White participants without baseline CVD or known diabetes
- Participants
- 287,987 participants
- Exposure
- HbA1c categories vs normal HbA1c
- Outcome
- BMI difference vs normal
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, adjusted for age, sex, deprivation status and statin use
- UK Biobank
- Adjusted for age, sex, deprivation status and statin use
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Difference, kg/m²
- prediabetes1
- 1.47
- prediabetes2
- 2.86
- prediabetes3
- 3.82
- Undiagnosed diabetes
- 4.09
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| WHtR difference vs normalprediabetes1 vs normal | difference 0.024 |
| WHtR difference vs normalprediabetes2 vs normal | difference 0.047 |
| WHtR difference vs normalprediabetes3 vs normal | difference 0.062 |
| WHtR difference vs normalUndiagnosed diabetes vs normal | difference 0.065 |
| ALT difference vs normalprediabetes1 vs normal | difference 2.45 U/L |
| ALT difference vs normalprediabetes2 vs normal | difference 4.05 U/L |
| ALT difference vs normalprediabetes3 vs normal | difference 6.11 U/L |
| ALT difference vs normalUndiagnosed diabetes vs normal | difference 10.28 U/L |
| Triglycerides difference vs normalprediabetes1 vs normal | difference 0.25 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides difference vs normalprediabetes2 vs normal | difference 0.42 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides difference vs normalprediabetes3 vs normal | difference 0.50 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides difference vs normalUndiagnosed diabetes vs normal | difference 0.67 mmol/L |
Age
- Increments greater in younger vs older people
Original publication
Progressive increases in adiposity and ectopic fat surrogates across glycaemic states highlight weight reduction as a key target for type 2 diabetes prevention, especially in younger people. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 3 November 2025. doi:10.
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