Body fat distribution as important as BMI in predicting future health risks, new study suggests
Researchers have found that how fat accumulates in the body is just as important for identifying different health risks as a person’s overall weight. By measuring fat distribution across the body, including in and around major organs, doctors may be able to better identify individuals at higher risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart failure, and therefore provide better personalised support and treatment.
Supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre’s at Oxford and Barts, the new study, published in the European Heart Journal, utilised detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from almost 25,000 UK Biobank participants.
The research team found six distinct patterns of fat build-up across various organs and areas of the body, including the liver, pancreas, heart, muscles and abdominal compartments. These patterns were linked to differences in body composition and heart structure.
Participants were followed for an average of almost five years after their MRI scans, allowing the researchers to investigate how these different patterns of body fat related to future cardiovascular disease.
For example, people in the pancreatic fat-dominant group had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and heart failure, even after accounting for their Body Mass Index (BMI).
Dr Yeshe Kway, lead author of the study, Radcliffe Department of Medicine's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, said:
By identifying different patterns of fat build-up and linking them to changes in the heart and risk of cardiometabolic diseases, we hope that this approach could ultimately help shift healthcare from reacting to established disease towards earlier, more personalised prevention based on an individual’s risk profile.
The findings echo those of a related study led by Dr Zahra Raisi-Estabragh, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, which similarly found that where body fat is stored can matter more than BMI for heart health. Read more on the Queen Mary University of London website.