Body Fat Mass Relationship with Insulin Resistance in a Populationof Algerian Adults

Abstract

Obesity, a condition considered by the WHO to be an epidemic and a major public health problem due to the severe cardiometabolic complications that
accompany it, requires rigorous management. Analysis of body composition, both global and segmental, could be a key element in the exploration of obesity
and therapeutic strategies to combat the deleterious effects of fat mass expansion. With this in mind, we sought to examine the relationship between fat mass and certain metabolic disorders, particularly insulin resistance. Our study involved 421 adult subjects, aged 18 to 69 years, of all weights, who underwent anthropometric, bioelectrical impedance, and biological measurements to characterize their body composition and metabolic profile. Measuring body fat percentage proved more relevant than calculating body mass index in characterizing overweight and determining metabolic status, particularly insulin resistance. The body fat percentage threshold at which insulin resistance develops has been assessed; it is 40% in women and 28% in men. Changes in body
composition could be a useful indicator of glycemic control, and the importance of favoring a comprehensive approach that integrates body composition into the assessment and treatment of obesity and its metabolic complications is justified.