Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2026

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
[Association between anthropometric clinical predictors and HOMA-IR]
Laura Navarrete-Cortes1, Rey David Sánchez-Morales2, Imer Guillermo Herrera-Olvera2
1Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Medicina Familiar No. 75, Consulta Externa. Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México, México.
Background:
The HOMA-IR index is a test that identifies the early risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by measuring insulin resistance (IR); however, these tests are not readily available in primary care settings. Predictors of IR, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), are useful for the early detection of this risk.
Objective:
To associate anthropometric parameters with HOMA-IR, considering BMI.
Material And Methods:
A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were determined using non-probability convenience sampling and the difference of proportions formula to calculate the HOMA-IR index in 315 adults without diabetes. Anthropometric parameters and visceral fat were considered, and participants were divided into groups according to BMI: normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Differences between groups were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test and the risk of each variable through multiple logistic regression.
Results:
Of the 315 participants, 57% showed IR; most of them belonged to the overweight and obesity group. Serum insulin concentrations and IR differed significantly among the 3 BMI groups, primarily in the overweight and obesity groups. WHR is a good predictor of risk for IR.
Conclusions:
IR can be early detected by using validated indices such as HOMA-IR. At the primary care level, anthropometric parameters such as WHR can be used, as it has proven to be a better predictor of IR, phenomenon that occurs much earlier than hyperglycemia.