Which adiposity index is best? Comparison of five indicators and their ability to identify type 2 diabetes risk in a population study
Authors' conclusion
Waist-based indicators are more strongly associated with diabetes than BMI. WHtR, an easy-to-calculate, waist-based index with a sex- and race-independent cut-point, may be useful for diabetes prevention.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the UK Whitehall II study; 7,488 diabetes-free participants followed up for incident diabetes7,488 followed up
- Participants
- 7,979 participants
- Exposure
- Five adiposity indicators: high vs low values
- Outcome
- Identification of current diabetes and prospective association with incident diabetes
- Follow-up
- Median 16.0 years
Methodological detailscross-sectional and prospective analyses, ROC curve analysis, Cox regression
- Cross-sectional and prospective analyses
- ROC curve analysis
- Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Identification of diabetes and incident diabetes
High waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (≥0.5): highest multivariable-adjusted HR for diabetes
2.64
95 % CI 2.29, 3.03
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Associations by age
- Across all indicators, associations between elevated indicators and diabetes were stronger in younger participants
Combined body mass index (BMI) and WHtR categories: diabetes risk
- Low BMI but high WHtR: HR
- 2.20 (95 % CI 1.65, 2.95)
- High BMI but low WHtR: HR
- 1.34 (95 % CI 1.05, 1.70)
Original publication
Which adiposity index is best? Comparison of five indicators and their ability to identify type 2 diabetes risk in a population study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 20 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →