Importance of anthropometry in assessing insulin resistance as a pre-alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome; a study among apparently healthy subjects

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Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are inter-related causes of metabolic syndrome. Early identification before the onset o f metabolic syndrome will be useful to lead a healthy life. The purpose o f the present study was to identify the importance of IR before the onset o f metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy, non-diabetics subjects. Data o f 227 apparently healthy non-diabetics (20-70 years) who reside in a suburban area in Colombo district, Sri Lanka, were recruited for this study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (W H tR ) w ere calculated. D ata w ere analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (ver.17). Majority were females (61.8 %). Prevalence o f IR was 59.9 %. Mean BMI of IR subjects was 28.3±2.7 kg m_2where 75.3 % o f obese had IR. All anthropometric variables except height had significant positive correlations (P<0.01) with IR. Linear regression analysis indicated that BMI is useful in predicting IR while logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and WC are the 13 Lohini V. Athiththan lohinia@gmail.com Kasuni N. W. Walatara kasuniwalatara@yahoo.com Usha P. K. Hettiaratchi kumari31 @yahoo.com Pradeep R. Perera rasika@sjp.ac.lk 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka best predictors of IR in males whereas it was WHtR and WC in females. Even though study subjects were apparently healthy and not diagnosed as diabetes, those with elevated anthropometric parameters had higher prevalence o f IR. Best anthropometric predictors of IR for a specific sex should be used as an easy self-monitoring alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome.