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Normal weight individuals who develop type 2 diabetes: the personal fat threshold.
1*Magnetic Resonance Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Clinical Science (London, England : 1979)
|December 18, 2014
Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) may not solely be linked to obesity. A personal fat threshold (PFT), independent of BMI, may explain T2DM development and remission through weight loss in individuals, regardless of their initial weight status.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Diabetes Research
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is often perceived as solely obesity-related.
- However, T2DM occurs in individuals with normal Body Mass Index (BMI), challenging this view.
- Existing research, like the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), includes individuals with lower BMIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of a "personal fat threshold" (PFT) in T2DM development and remission.
- To explain why weight loss can reverse T2DM in both obese and non-obese individuals.
- To propose a new framework for understanding T2DM onset and management.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of UKPDS cohort data, focusing on BMI distribution at T2DM diagnosis.
- Hypothesizing a PFT concept independent of BMI.
- Illustrating the PFT concept with BMI distribution curves and individual behavior diagrams.
Main Results:
- The UKPDS cohort median BMI was 28 kg/m², with one-third having a BMI < 25 kg/m².
- The PFT hypothesis explains T2DM in non-obese individuals.
- Substantial weight loss can lead to T2DM remission by reducing an individual's fat levels below their PFT.
Conclusions:
- T2DM development is linked to exceeding an individual's PFT, not solely high BMI.
- The PFT concept offers a unified explanation for T2DM in diverse weight categories.
- Managing T2DM may involve personalized weight loss strategies targeting an individual's PFT.
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