title: Higher Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in Men Than in Women Is Associated With Differences in Visceral Fat Mass.
abstract: We have previously found that visceral fat is a stronger predictor for cardiovascular risk factors than body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  
  This study sought to investigate the prevalence of diabetes in elderly men and women in relation to objectively assessed visceral fat volume.
  
  
  
  The cohort consisted of a population-based sample of 705 men and 688 women, all age 70 y at the time of examination.
  
  
  
  Associations between body fat estimates, plasma glucose level, and diabetes prevalence were investigated using multivariable-adjusted statistical models.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 14.6% in men and 9.1% in women (P < .001). Mean BMI was slightly higher in men than in women (27.3 vs 26.6 kg/m2; P = .01), with a greater difference in mean visceral fat mass (1987 vs 1077 g; P < .001). After adjustment for physical activity and smoking, men had about/approximately twice the odds of having type 2 diabetes compared with women (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-2.76). The inclusion of BMI in this model did not change the risk associated with male sex (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.34-2.77). However, when visceral fat was included as a covariate, male sex was not associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.51-1.18).
  
  
  
  The higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in older men than in older women was associated with larger amount of visceral fat in men. In contrast, differences in BMI was not associated with this difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (A.N.), Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine (J.H.), Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine (T.O.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.W.F.), Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit (P.F.W.), Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Nutrition (P.W.F.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (P.W.F.); and Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics (P.N.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (A.N.), Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine (J.H.), Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine (T.O.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.W.F.), Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit (P.F.W.), Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Nutrition (P.W.F.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (P.W.F.); and Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics (P.N.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hadrévi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (A.N.), Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine (J.H.), Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine (T.O.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.W.F.), Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit (P.F.W.), Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Nutrition (P.W.F.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (P.W.F.); and Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics (P.N.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (A.N.), Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine (J.H.), Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine (T.O.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.W.F.), Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit (P.F.W.), Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Nutrition (P.W.F.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (P.W.F.); and Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics (P.N.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine (A.N.), Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine (J.H.), Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine (T.O.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences (P.W.F.), Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit (P.F.W.), Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Nutrition (P.W.F.), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (P.W.F.); and Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics (P.N.), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordström
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology