title: Fat distribution and glucose intolerance among Greenland Inuit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high amount of subcutaneous fat is suggested to explain the observation of lower obesity-associated metabolic risk among Inuit than among Europeans. We examined the association between measures of obesity (visceral adipose tissue [VAT], subcutaneous adipose tissue [SAT], BMI, waist circumference [WC], and percentage of body fat) and the indices of glucose metabolism (fasting and 2-h glucose levels, insulin resistance per homeostasis model assessment [HOMA-IR], and the insulin sensitivity index [ISI0,120]) among Greenland Inuit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3,108 adult Inuit participated in a population-based study. The examination included a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and anthropometric measurements. VAT and SAT were measured by ultrasound according to a validated protocol. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors was obtained by interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean SATs were 1.8 and 3.5 cm in men and women, respectively. Mean VATs were 7.0 and 6.3 cm in men and women, respectively. The total prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 9%. Percentage of body fat generally was most strongly associated with all outcomes. Both SAT and VAT were significantly associated with glucose intolerance, fasting and 2-h plasma glucose levels, HOMA-IR, and ISI0,120. VAT was more strongly associated with all outcomes than was SAT. After further adjustment for BMI or WC, VAT was associated with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, whereas there was a trend toward a negative or no association with SAT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High mean values of SAT may to a large extent explain the high WC in Inuit populations, and this is suggested to contribute to the lower observed metabolic risk for a given level of obesity.
authors: Corresponding author: Marit Eika Jørgensen, maej@steno.dk.
authors: Marit Eika
authors: ME
authors: Jørgensen
authors: Knut
authors: K
authors: Borch-Johnsen
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Stolk
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Bjerregaard
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
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