Sex-Specific Associations of Android and Gynoid Adiposity with Prediabetes Among U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional analysis of survey data
PubMed 42047492 · doi:10.1177/15578518261446293
What was done
A cross-sectional analysis of 2,993 adults from the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) evaluated sex-specific associations between regional body fat and prediabetes. Android and gynoid fat percentages were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and associations were assessed with multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and metabolic covariates.
What was found
Individuals with prediabetes showed significantly higher android and gynoid fat percentages than normoglycemic controls in both sexes. In fully adjusted models, higher android fat was associated with increased odds of prediabetes in men (OR = 1.044, 95% CI: 1.013–1.077) and women (OR = 1.052, 95% CI: 1.023–1.083). Higher gynoid fat was associated with reduced odds of prediabetes in women (OR = 0.940, 95% CI: 0.910–0.972), with no statistically significant association observed in men (OR = 0.965, 95% CI: 0.930–1.001).
Why it matters
The findings show that regional fat distribution is differentially linked to glycemic status by sex, identifying gynoid fat as potentially protective against prediabetes specifically in women.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or temporal directionality between fat distribution and glycemic status. Potential residual confounding remains possible, and findings are limited to the U.S. adult population sampled.
Cited by
- supports A higher percentage of men have pre-diabetes than women do in the United States.