Body Composition Methods in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes or at Risk for T2D: a Clinical Review

Abstract

Purpose of review: The aim of this study is to summarize anthropometric and advanced methods used to assess body composition in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or at risk for T2D that provide clinically relevant information about T2D disease-related complications or risk factors.

Recent findings: Anthropometry is commonly used in clinical settings; however, provides unreliable estimates of fat mass, fat-free mass, and body fat distribution for metabolic health assessments compared to advanced techniques such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Few studies report the clinical use of anthropometric and advanced body composition methods that identify T2D disease-related complications or T2D risk factors. Anthropometry, BIA, DXA, CT, and MRI were used to estimate body adiposity and distribution, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots, and skeletal muscle mass. Review findings indicate that these methods were capable of identifying clinically relevant T2D disease-related complications such as sarcopenia and T2D risk factors such as obesity or regional adiposity. However, estimates were often sex and race/ethnicity specific warranting cross-validation of these methods in broader populations with T2D or risk for T2D prior to clinical implementation.

Keywords: Body composition; Clinical review; Prediabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes risk.