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

  • Obesity (KM Gadde and P Singh, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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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.

Summary

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.

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Acknowledgements

NMS was supported by doctoral study funding through the University of Alabama Birmingham Graduate School and University of Alabama Birmingham School of Nursing Doctoral Scholarship.

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  1. School of Nursing, Office of Research and Scholarship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Nadia Markie Sneed

  2. School of Nursing, Department of Family, Community Health, and Systems, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Shannon A. Morrison

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NS, study design; NS, data collection; NS, SM analysis; NS, SM manuscript preparation.

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Correspondence to Nadia Markie Sneed.

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Sneed, N.M., Morrison, S.A. Body Composition Methods in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes or at Risk for T2D: a Clinical Review. Curr Diab Rep 21, 14 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-021-01381-9

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