Abstract
Excess fat in the abdomen can be classified generally as visceral and subcutaneous adiposity. Evidence suggests that visceral adiposity has greater implications for diabetes than other fat depots. The purpose of this study is to explore the disparities in the distribution of abdominal adiposity in diabetic/prediabetic and nondiabetic populations and to identify moderators that influence the pattern of central obesity via a meta-analysis technique. The Hedges' g was used as a measure of effect size and 95% confidence interval was computed. A total of 41 relevant studies with 101 effect sizes were retrieved. Pooled effect sizes for visceral and subcutaneous adiposity were 0.69 and 0.42, respectively. Diabetic/prediabetic populations exhibited greater visceral and subcutaneous adiposity compared to nondiabetic populations (Z = 10.35, P < 0.05). Significant moderator effects of gender (Z = −2.90) and assessment method of abdominal adiposity (Z = −2.17) were found for visceral fat (P < 0.05), but not for subcutaneous fat. Type of health condition influenced both visceral (Z = −5.10) and subcutaneous (Z = −7.09) abdominal adiposity volumes (P < 0.05). Abdominal adiposity distributions were significantly altered in the diabetic/prediabetic population compared to the nondiabetic population. Gender, assessment method of abdominal adiposity, and type of health conditions (diabetic/prediabetics) were identified as crucial moderators that influence the degree of abdominal adiposity.
Highlights
Central obesity is a significant health problem associated with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, metabolic perturbations, hyperinsulinemia, and progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus [1, 2]
A total of 101 effect sizes were extracted from 41 studies, 54 effect sizes for visceral adiposity, and 47 effect sizes for subcutaneous adiposity
The differences in visceral adiposity volumes between nondiabetic and diabetic individuals were higher in women, as opposed to men [40]. These results suggest that men are prone to possess a higher degree of visceral adiposity; yet, the increase in visceral adiposity is larger for women as they progress to diabetes
Summary
Central obesity is a significant health problem associated with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, metabolic perturbations, hyperinsulinemia, and progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus [1, 2]. In adults over 20 years and 65 years old, the incidence of diabetes was 11.3% and 26.9%, respectively [4]. The health consequences of diabetes are severe and approaching epidemic proportions. The risks of being diagnosed with diabetes are critical, as it is linked to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, retinopathy, limb amputation, and other physical ailments [9, 10]. Obesity is one of the most crucial contributors that increase the risk of being diagnosed with diabetes [11]
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