help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Right arrow Articles by Poehlman, E. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Right arrow Articles by Poehlman, E. T.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Obesity
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 86, No. 3 1020-1025
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


From the Clinical Research Centers

What Are the Physical Characteristics Associated with a Normal Metabolic Profile Despite a High Level of Obesity in Postmenopausal Women?1

Martin Brochu, André Tchernof, Isabelle J. Dionne, Cynthia K. Sites, Georgia H. Eltabbakh, Ethan A. H. Sims and Eric T. Poehlman

Department of Medicine, Divisions of Clinical Pharmacology and Metabolic Research (M.B., A.T., I.J.D., E.T.P.), Cardiology (M.B.), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.K.S., G.H.E.), and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Unit (E.A.H.S., E.T.P.), University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05405

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Eric T. Poehlman, Ph.D., Given Building, C-247, Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405. E-mail: epoehlma{at}zoo.uvm.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Although obesity is often associated with insulin resistance and a cluster of metabolic disturbances, the existence of a subgroup of healthy but obese individuals has been postulated. It is unclear why some obese individuals fail to show traditional risk factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome despite having a very high accumulation of body fat. To address this issue, we identified and studied a subgroup of metabolically normal but obese (MNO) postmenopausal women to gain insight into potential physiological factors that may protect them against the development of obesity-related comorbidities.

We carefully examined the metabolic characteristics of 43 obese, sedentary postmenopausal women (mean ± SD, 58.0 ± 6.0 yr). Subjects were classified as MNO or as metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) based on an accepted cut-point for insulin sensitivity (measured by the hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamp technique). Thereafter, we determined 1) body composition (fat mass and lean body mass), 2) body fat distribution (abdominal visceral and sc adipose tissue areas, midthigh sc adipose tissue and muscle attenuation), 3) plasma lipid-lipoprotein levels, 4) plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, 5) resting blood pressure, 6) peak oxygen consumption, 7) physical activity energy expenditure, and 8) age-related onset of obesity with a questionnaire as potential modulators of differences in the risk profile.

We identified 17 MNO subjects who displayed high insulin sensitivity (11.2 ± 2.6 mg/min·kg lean body mass) and 26 MAO subjects with lower insulin sensitivity (5.7 ± 1.1 mg/min·kg lean body mass). Despite comparable total body fatness between groups (45.2 ± 5.3% vs. 44.8 ± 6.6%; P = NS), MNO individuals had 49% less visceral adipose tissue than MAO subjects (141 ± 53 vs. 211 ± 85 cm2; P < 0.01). No difference was noted between groups for abdominal sc adipose tissue (453 ± 126 vs. 442 ± 144 cm2; P = NS), total fat mass (38.1 ± 10.6 vs. 40.0 ± 11.8 kg), muscle attenuation (42.2 ± 2.6 vs. 43.6 ± 4.8 Houndsfield units), and physical activity energy expenditure (1060 ± 323 vs. 1045 ± 331 Cal/day). MNO subjects had lower fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and lower insulin levels during the oral glucose tolerance test (P values ranging between 0.01–0.001). No difference was observed between groups for 2-h glucose levels and glucose area during the oral glucose tolerance test. MNO subjects showed lower plasma triglycerides and higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations than MAO individuals (P < 0.01 in both cases). Results from the questionnaire indicated that 48% of the MNO women presented an early onset of obesity (<20 yr old) compared with 29% of the MAO subjects (P = 0.09). Stepwise regression analysis showed that visceral adipose tissue and the age-related onset of obesity explained 22% and 13%, respectively, of the variance observed in insulin sensitivity (total r2 = 0.35; P < 0.05 in both cases).

Our results support the existence of a subgroup of obese but metabolically normal postmenopausal women who display high levels of insulin sensitivity despite having a high accumulation of body fat. This metabolically normal profile is associated with a lower accumulation of visceral adipose tissue and an earlier age-related onset of obesity.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
OBESITY IS A significant and growing health problem in industrialized societies and an important risk factor associated with coronary artery disease (1). Obesity is rapidly increasing in the United States, such that the proportion of obese adults displaying a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2 increased by 6% between 1991 and 1998 (2). The prevalence of overweight and obesity is even higher in postmenopausal women; over 60% of this population have a BMI greater than 25 kg/m (2, 3). The higher incidence of obesity in postmenopausal women may be partially due to the menopause transition, in which changing ovarian hormone status may accelerate the age-related increase in body fatness and decline in energy expenditure (4).

Obesity is frequently associated with some features of the syndrome of insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders (5, 6, 7). However, all obese individuals do not display a clustering of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. In the 1980s, the existence of a subgroup of metabolically normal but obese individuals (MNO) was postulated by several investigators (8, 9). Subsequent studies confirmed the existence of a subgroup of obese individuals with relatively high levels of insulin sensitivity and a favorable metabolic profile (10, 11).

Although the existence of a subgroup of MNO individuals has been proposed, it is presently unclear why this subset of individuals is protected against the metabolic consequences of excessive body fatness. To address this issue, we identified obese postmenopausal women with high and low levels of insulin sensitivity based on the euglycemic/hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Individuals with high levels of insulin sensitivity were classified as MNO, whereas obese subjects with lower insulin sensitivity were classified as metabolically abnormal obese (MAO). Thereafter, we examined the metabolic characteristics that may potentially explain the favorable metabolic status in MNO postmenopausal women.


    Subjects and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Subjects

The study population consisted of 43 obese (percent body fat, 45.2 ± 6.1%; mean ± SD) postmenopausal women, aged 50–71 yr (58.0 ± 6.0 yr; mean ± SD). Because the menopause transition and the aging process are associated with a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in fat mass (12), BMI is an inadequate index to accurately identify the level of obesity in older subjects (13). Thus, for the purpose of the present study, subjects were first selected on the basis of their percent body fat (>=35%), following previously proposed standard values (14, 15). Then, to identify those with impaired insulin sensitivity, we used a glucose disposal rate (M values) cut-point of 8.0 mg/min·kg lean body mass, as previously suggested (16). Women with M values greater than the cut-point were classified as having high insulin sensitivity and placed in the MNO group, whereas women with values below the cut-point M value were classified as low insulin sensitivity and categorized as MAO subjects (17).

Women were included in the study if they had stopped menstruating for more than 1 yr and had a FSH level greater than 30 U/L. Participants were sedentary (less than two times a week of structured exercise), nonsmokers, low to moderate alcohol consumers (<=2 drinks/day), and not taking hormone replacement therapy. All participants were apparently healthy and had no history or evidence on physical examination of 1) cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or stroke; 2) diabetes; 3) moderate to severe hypertension (resting blood pressure, >170/100 mm Hg); 4) orthopedic limitations; 5) body weight fluctuation more than 5 kg in the previous 6 months; 6) thyroid or pituitary disease; or 7) medication that could affect cardiovascular function or metabolism. All participants signed an informed consent document. The University of Vermont medical sciences committee on human research approved the study.

Diet stabilization period

Before the study, participating volunteers were submitted to a weight stabilization period (within 2 kg BW) that lasted, on the average, 38 ± 18 days. Macronutrient intake was also stabilized 3 days before testing with a standard diet provided by the metabolic kitchen of the General Clinical Research Center containing 55% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 15% protein.

Body composition

Body weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on a calibrated balance. Determination of fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), and percentage of body fat were assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (model DPX-L, Lunar Corp., Madison, WI) as previously described (18, 19). During the scan procedure, subjects were asked to wear only a standard hospital gown and to maintain a supine position.

Computed tomography (CT)

Visceral adipose tissue and sc adipose tissue were measured by CT as previously described (20) using a GE High Speed Advantage CT scanner (General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). The subjects were examined in the supine position with both arms stretched above the head. The position of the scan was established at the L4–L5 level using a scout image of the body. Visceral adipose tissue area was quantified by delineating the intraabdominal cavity at the internal-most aspect of the abdominal and oblique muscle walls surrounding the cavity and the posterior aspect of the vertebral body. Adipose tissue was highlighted and computed using an attenuation range of -190 to -30 Hounsfield units (HU). The sc adipose tissue area was quantified by highlighting adipose tissue located between the skin and the external-most aspect of the abdominal muscle wall. Deep and superficial sc adipose tissue areas were measured by delineating the sc fascia at the L4–L5 level and by computing areas of the layers of fat on each side of the fascia (21).

CT was also used to measure midthigh cross-sectional skeletal muscle and adipose tissue areas and muscle attenuation, the latter representing an estimate of muscle fat content (22, 23). Areas of skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and muscle attenuation were calculated by delineating the regions of interest and then computing the surface areas using an attenuation range of -190 to -30 HU for adipose tissue and 0–100 HU for skeletal muscle. Test-retest measurements of the different body fat distribution indexes on 10 CT scans yielded a mean absolute difference of ±1%.

Peak oxygen consumption (VO2)

Subjects performed a graded exercise test on treadmill to voluntary exhaustion to measure peak VO2 as previously described (24). Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms were performed at the end of each 2-min stage. Peak VO2 (liters per min) was considered to be the highest value obtained during the test. Expired gas was analyzed during the exercise protocol using a Sensormedics Horizon metabolic cart (Yorba Linda, CA). Data collection included VO2 and respiratory equivalent ratio (CO2 production/O2 consumption).

Measurements of energy expenditure

Total daily energy expenditure (TEE). TEE was determined from the doubly labeled water technique over a 10-day period. During that period, subjects were asked to maintain their normal daily physical activity routines. These individuals, however, were not participating in any structured exercise training program. Specific details about the doubly labeled water technique have been reported extensively by our laboratory (18, 25).

Resting metabolic rate (RMR). RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry using the ventilated hood technique (24) after an overnight 12-h fast at the General Clinical Research Center. Respiratory gas analysis was performed using a Deltatrac metabolic cart (Sensormedics, Yorba Linda, CA). The RMR (kilocalories per day) was calculated from the equation of Weir (26). The test-retest correlation coefficient within 1 week has been shown to be 0.90 for RMR in our laboratory.

Daily physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). Doubly labeled water in conjunction with indirect calorimetry was used to measure PAEE. PAEE was calculated as the difference between TEE and RMR, and the thermic effect of a meal using the equation: PAEE (Cal/day) = [TEE (Cal/day) x 0.9] - RMR (Cal/day) as previously described (18, 25). This approach assumes that the thermic effect of feeding is 10% of TEE in the elderly (27).

Glucose and insulin metabolism

During an out-patient visit to the GCRC, a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed after 3 days of standardized diet (>250 g carbohydrate consumption) according to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (28). Insulin and glucose concentrations were measured at 0, 60, 90, and 120 min during the OGTT. The total area under the curve was determined with the trapezoid method.

Insulin sensitivity measurement during the clamp

Basal and insulin-stimulated glucose kinetics were measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique as described by DeFronzo et al. (29) and implemented in our laboratory (17, 30). All subjects were tested after a 12-h overnight fast at the General Clinical Research Center and 3 days of standardized meals. An iv catheter was placed in an antecubital vein, and a second one was placed retrograde in the contralateral hand for blood sampling. The hand was warmed in a box by a gentle stream of heated air (50-55 C) to produce arterialized venous blood. At 0900 h, the insulin infusion began and continued for an additional 2 h. Insulin was infused at a rate of 240 pmol/m2·min to attain postprandial peripheral insulin levels and suppress hepatic glucose output. Blood glucose was monitored every 5 min during the insulin infusion, and euglycemia was maintained throughout the clamp by infusing 20% dextrose at a variable rate. The rate of exogenous dextrose infusion reached a constant value by the second hour of the clamp. The mean rate of exogenous dextrose infusion during the last 30 min of the clamp was considered the insulin sensitivity index or M value. Coefficients of variation of 7% among subjects and 5% within subjects were obtained for the plasma glucose levels during the clamp. The concentration of insulin achieved during the clamp was 716 ± 172 pmol/L for the entire group (MNO, 658 ± 134 pmol/L; MAO, 758 ± 189 pmol/L; P = 0.1 between groups; results not shown).

Biochemical analyses

Plasma glucose concentrations were determined using a glucose analyzer (YSI, Inc., Yellow Springs, OH). Plasma insulin concentrations were estimated by modification of the RIA technique of Starr et al. (31).

Plasma analysis

After a 12-h fast, blood samples were obtained in the morning from an antecubital vein and stored in Vacutainer tubes containing ethylenediamine tetraacetate. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in plasma and lipoprotein fractions were determined by enzymatic methods (32, 33). The high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Chol) fraction was measured in plasma supernatant after precipitation with dextran sulfate and magnesium sulfate (34). The formula reported by Friedewald et al. (35) was used to calculate plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Chol) concentrations.

Blood pressure

As previously described (36), systolic and diastolic sitting blood pressure were determined as the average of the last four readings of five (one per min) from a Dinamap (Critikon, Johnson & Johnson, Tampa, FL) automatic machine. An appropriate cuff size was selected for each subject based on arm circumference. Measurements were performed at the Clinical Research Center more than 3 h after the subject had checked in for an overnight stay and 4 h after lunch. Conditions were carefully standardized: no talking, cuff on the right arm, and 10 min of rest.

Questionnaire

All subjects completed a questionnaire in which they were queried regarding their age-related onset of obesity. Volunteers responded to one question: were you overweight or obese between 13 and 19 yr of age? Subjects answering yes were categorized as earlier onset of obesity, and those answering no were categorized as later onset of obesity.

Statistical analyses

Data are presented as the mean ± SD. Log transformation was used to normalize the distribution for variables that had an abnormal distribution (e.g. age, body mass index, lean body mass, insulin sensitivity, and plasma triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels in the fasting state). Unpaired t tests were used to examine differences between groups. The {chi}2 test was used to compare the prevalence of early vs. late onset of obesity between MNO and MAO subjects. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine which variables independently predicted insulin sensitivity, plasma triglycerides, and HDL-Chol concentrations. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Table 1Go shows characteristics of MNO and MAO subjects. By design, both groups were significantly different for absolute and relative levels of insulin sensitivity (per kg lean body mass; P < 0.0001 in both cases). There was no overlap in insulin sensitivity levels between groups (result not shown). Both groups of women were comparable for age, body weight, BMI, fat mass, bone mineral content, percent body fat, peak VO2, and measures of energy expenditure. MNO women had a lower lean body mass compared with subjects in the MAO group (P < 0.05).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Characteristics of metabolically normal obese (MNO) and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) subjects

 
Table 2Go shows body fat distribution measurements derived from CT. No differences were noted for superficial and deep abdominal sc adipose tissue accumulations. On the other hand, MNO women had 49.6% less visceral adipose tissue than MAO subjects (141 ± 53 vs. 211 ± 85 cm2; P < 0.01). Leg sc adipose tissue accumulations, leg muscle area, and leg muscle attenuation were not different between groups.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Body fat distribution measured by computed tomography in metabolically normal obese (MNO) and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) subjects

 
Metabolic variables are presented in Table 3Go. No differences between groups were noted for total cholesterol, LDL-Chol, and resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. MNO women had lower plasma triglyceride concentrations and higher plasma HDL-Chol levels (P < 0.01 in both cases). As expected from the use of insulin sensitivity levels to categorize our sample of subjects, MNO women had lower values of fasting plasma insulin and glucose concentrations, 2-h plasma insulin concentrations, and insulin areas during the OGTT. No difference was observed between groups for 2-h glucose concentrations, but there was a trend for a lower glucose area during the OGTT in MNO women (P = 0.07).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3. Metabolic characteristics of metabolically normal obese (MNO) and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) subjects

 
Results from the questionnaire indicated that 48% of the MNO women presented an early onset of obesity (obese between 13–19 yr of age) compared with 29% of MAO subjects (P = 0.09). Based on these observations, the age-related onset of obesity was included as an independent variable in stepwise regression analyses to predict insulin sensitivity (see Table 4Go). First, our results indicated that visceral adipose tissue accumulations and an earlier age-related onset of obesity were the only independent predictors of insulin sensitivity, explaining 22% (P = 0.005) and 13% (P = 0.02) of the variances observed, respectively. Second, visceral adipose tissue accumulation was the only independent predictor of fasting plasma triglyceride concentrations (r2 = 0.22; P = 0.008). Finally, peak VO2, age, visceral adipose tissue, and an earlier age-related onset of obesity were the best predictors of plasma HDL-Chol concentrations, explaining 65% of the variance observed in our cohort of obese postmenopausal women (P values ranging between 0.0001–0.05).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 4. Results of the stepwise regression analysis regarding independent predictors of metabolic disturbances in sedentary obese postmenopausal women

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The present study supports the existence of a subgroup of metabolically normal but obese postmenopausal women. These individuals display remarkably high levels of insulin sensitivity despite having high levels of body fat. The additive effect of lower visceral adipose tissue levels and a longer duration of obesity may explain in part metabolic factors that may be protective against obesity-related comorbidities in this unique population.

Our subgroup of MNO postmenopausal women displayed remarkably high levels of insulin sensitivity despite having half of their weight as body fat. In fact, glucose disposal levels in this group are comparable to values observed in healthy young nonobese women (11.0 ± 2.2 mg/min·kg LBM) (17). This is a striking finding given that women in the present study were older (57 ± 6 vs. 28 ± 4 yr), were more obese (38.1 ± 10.6 vs. 15.3 ± 4.4 kg fat mass), and had lower fitness levels (19.3 ± 3.8 vs. 39.3 ± 7.3 mL/kg·min) than younger women in our previous study (17). Collectively, in combination with previous studies (11, 37), the identification of a subpopulation of obese individuals who are quite insulin sensitive is a reproducible finding.

The results reported herein are based on the classification of individuals as having high (>=8 mg/min·kg LBM) or low (<8 mg/min·kg LBM) levels of insulin sensitivity, as previously suggested to initially identify MNO and MAO subjects (16). We have previously validated this cut-point as predictive of a cluster of deleterious phenotypes, including abdominal obesity, lipid-lipoprotein abnormalities, and low energy expenditure (17).

This study provides new information by identifying phenotypic characteristics that are protective against metabolic factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome. Furthermore, the direct assessment of our outcome variables using radiological imaging techniques and stable isotope methodologies lends credibility to our findings. We observed a 50% lower accumulation of visceral adipose tissue in MNO women compared with the MAO group. Thus, our results suggest that lower amounts of visceral adipose tissue, despite high levels of body fat, probably contribute to their favorable metabolic profile. Additional support for this idea is found in our multiple regression approach, which showed that visceral adipose tissue accounted for the greatest source of unique variance in our population, explaining 22% of the variation observed. This finding is in accordance with numerous studies in the literature suggesting that the amount of visceral fat is an important factor associated with variations in insulin sensitivity (38, 39). However, these findings extend previous investigations by suggesting that even in the presence of large quantities of total body fat, lower accumulations of visceral adipose tissue may be partially protective against metabolic abnormalities. Although it has been suggested that a visceral fat accumulation greater than 130 cm2 is associated with deleterious changes in glucose and insulin metabolism (40), this is not the case in our study, where the mean value for visceral adipose tissue is 141 ± 53 cm2 in the MNO group.

Consistent with the lower amount of visceral adipose tissue in MNO women, we found lower levels of plasma triglycerides and higher plasma HDL-Chol concentrations. The lower accumulation of visceral adipose tissue and the high insulin sensitivity reported in this subgroup are, therefore, in accordance with the idea that insulin resistance is associated with an unfavorable body fat distribution and disturbances in lipid-lipoprotein profile independent of the level of obesity (41, 42).

The second variable associated with a more favorable metabolic profile in MNO women was an earlier onset of obesity. That is, an earlier onset of obesity was associated with higher insulin sensitivity and a more favorable plasma lipid profile, although this variable appeared to be less robust than visceral adipose tissue. Support for this finding is derived from two lines of evidence. First, we noted a greater percentage of MNO women who became obese during their adolescent years compared with MAO (48% vs. 29%, respectively). Second, the onset of obesity was an independent predictor of insulin sensitivity and plasma HDL-Chol in multiple regression analyses. These results support those of Muscelli et al. (43), who reported a positive association between the duration of obesity and variation in insulin sensitivity.

The mechanisms that could explain the higher insulin sensitivity and an early onset of obesity in MNO women remain speculative. It is possible that the high insulin sensitivity in MNO women may have been a primary metabolic event contributing to their earlier onset of obesity. This idea is consistent with other reports that high levels of insulin sensitivity are predictive of weight gain (44). Another possibility is that an underlying insulin-resistant state may have buffered weight gain, leading to a later onset of obesity in the MAO group (45, 46). Regardless of the sequence of metabolic events, our cross-sectional design cannot address this issue.

It is important to note that other physiological variables measured were not helpful in understanding the favorable metabolic profile in MNO women. We considered differences in muscle attenuation (47, 48, 49), sc adipose tissue accumulations (49, 50), and fitness levels (49, 51), as all of these variables have been related to variation in insulin sensitivity. However, the present study failed to find associations between these components and rates of glucose disposal. It is possible the homogeneous nature of our population (postmenopausal, sedentary, and obese) may have attenuated these previously reported relationships.

Our results may have important clinical and public health implications. A BMI of 30 kg/m2, which is now an international reference to diagnose and treat human obesity (52), must be interpreted with caution. That is, one may question the medical urgency to individually treat postmenopausal women with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 if individuals are identified as metabolically normal. Furthermore, when the results of the present study are considered within the context of our previous work (17), a unifying hypothesis relates to the importance of visceral adipose tissue (and not general indexes of adiposity) as a strong predictor of metabolic risk in young and older women independent of their body fatness.

In summary, our results support the existence of a subgroup of obese postmenopausal women who display high levels of insulin sensitivity despite having a large quantity of body fat. This is associated in part with lower levels of visceral adipose tissue and an earlier onset of obesity.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by the General Clinical Research Center of the University of Vermont (RR-00109), NIH Grants AG-13978 and DK-52754 (to E.T.P.) and R29-AG-151121 and MO1-RR-00109 (to C.K.S.), an American Heart Association Fellowship (to A.T.), a Geriatric Institute of the University of Sherbrooke Fellowship (to I.J.D.), and a Medical Research Council of Canada Fellowship (to M.B.). Back

Received August 3, 2000.

Revised October 24, 2000.

Accepted October 27, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Hubert HB, Feinleib M, McNamara PM, Castelli WP. 1983 Obesity as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: a 26-year follow-up of participants in the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 67:968–977.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Mokdad AH, Serdula MK, Dietz WH, Bowman BA, Marks JS, Koplan. 1999 The spread of the obesity epidemic in the United States, 1991–1998. JAMA. 282:1519–1522.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. 1998 Overweight and obesity in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1960–1994. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 22:39–47.[CrossRef][Medline]
  4. Poehlman ET, Toth MJ, Gardner AW. 1995 Changes in energy balance and body composition at menopause: a controlled longitudinal study. Ann Intern Med. 123:673–675.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Björntorp P. 1992 New concepts in the relationship obesity-non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Eur J Med. 1:37–42.[Medline]
  6. Reaven GM. 1995 Pathophysiology of insulin resistance in human disease. Physiol Rev. 75:473–486.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Kissebah AH, Krakower GR. 1994 Regional adiposity and morbidity. Physiol Rev. 74:761–811.[Free Full Text]
  8. Andres R. 1980 Effect of obesity on total mortality. Int J Obes. 4:381–386.[Medline]
  9. Sims EAH. 1982 Characterization of the syndromes of obesity, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Baltimore, London: Williams & Wilkins.
  10. Ferrannini E, Haffner SM, Mitchell BD, Stern MP. 1991 Hyperinsulinaemia: the key feature of a cardiovascular and metabolic Diabetologia. 34:416–422.[CrossRef][Medline]
  11. Bonora E, Kiechl S, Willeit J, et al. 1998 Prevalence of insulin resistance in metabolic disorders: the Bruneck Study. Diabetes. 47:1643–1649.[Abstract]
  12. Tchernof A, Poehlman ET. 1998 Effects of the menopause transition on body fatness and body fat distribution. Obes Res. 6:246–254.[Medline]
  13. Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, et al. 1995 Body size and fat distribution as predictors of coronary heart disease among middle-aged and older US men. Am J Epidemiol. 141:1117–1127.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Jackson AS, Pollock ML, Ward A. 1980 Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 12:175–182.[Medline]
  15. American College of Sports Medicine. 1993 Resource manual for guideline for exercise testing and prescription, 2nd Ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
  16. Beck-Nielsen H, Groop LC. 1994 Metabolic and genetic characterization of prediabetic states. Sequence of events leading to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest. 94:1714–1721.
  17. Dvorak RV, Denino WF, Ades PA, Poehlman ET. 1999 High risk phenotypes in metabolically obese, but normal weight young women. Diabetes. 48:2210–2214.[Abstract]
  18. Starling RD, Toth MJ, Matthews DE, Poehlman ET. 1998 Energy requirements and physical activity of older free-living African-Americans: a doubly labeled water study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 83:1529–1534.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Brochu M, Starling RD, Ades PA, Poehlman ET. 1999 Are aerobically fit older individuals more physically active in their free-living time? A doubly labeled water approach J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 84:3872–3876.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  20. Tchernof A, Starling RD, Walston JD, et al. 1999 Obesity related phenotypes and the beta3-adrenoceptor gene variant in postmenopausal women. Diabetes. 48:1425–1428.[Abstract]
  21. Misra A, Garg A, Abate N, Peshock RM, Stray-Gundersen J, Grundy SM. 1997 Relationship of anterior and posterior subcutaneous abdominal fat to insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic men. Obes Res. 5:93–99.[Medline]
  22. Kelley DE, Slasky BS, Janosky J. 1991 Skeletal muscle density: effects of obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr. 54:509–515.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. Simoneau JA, Colberg SR, Thaete FL, Kelley DE. 1995 Skeletal muscle glycolytic and oxidative enzyme capacities are determinants of insulin sensitivity and muscle composition in obese women. FASEB J. 9:273–278.[Abstract]
  24. Poehlman ET, McAuliffe TL, Van Houten DR, Danforth E. 1990 Influence of age and endurance training on metabolic rate and hormones in healthy men. Am J Physiol. 259:E66–E72.
  25. Starling RD, Toth MJ, Carpenter WH, Matthews DE, Poehlman ET. 1998 Energy requirements and physical activity in free-living older women and men: a doubly labeled water study. J Appl Physiol. 85:1063–1069.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  26. Weir JB. 1949 New methods for calculating metabolic rate with special reference to protein metabolism. J Physiol. 109:1–9.
  27. Poehlman ET, Melby C, Badylak S. 1991 Relation of age and physical exercise status with metabolic rate in younger and older healthy men. J Gerontol. 46:B54–B58.
  28. American Diabetes Association. 1997 Report of the expert committee on the diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 20:1183–1197.[Medline]
  29. DeFronzo RA, Tobin JD, Andres R. 1979 Glucose clamp technique: a method for quantifying insulin secretion and resistance. Am J Physiol. 237:E214–E223.
  30. Brochu M, Starling RD, Tchernof A, Matthews DE, Garcia-Rubi E, Poehlman ET. 2000 Visceral adipose tissue is an independent correlate of glucose disposal in older obese postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85:2378–2384.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Starr JI, Horowitz AL, Rubenstein AH, Mako ME. 1979 Insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide. In: Behrman, ed. Methods of Hormone Radioimmunoassay. New York: Academic Press; 613–642.
  32. Allain CC, Poon LS, Chang CS, Richmond W, Fu PC. 1974 Enzymatic determination of total serum cholesterol. Clin Chem. 20:470–478.[Abstract]
  33. Spayd RW, Bruschi B, Burdick BA, et al. 1978 Multilayer film elements for clinical analysis: application to representative chemical determination. Clin Chem. 24:1343–1350.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  34. Warnick GR, Bederson J, Alberts JJ. 1982 Dextran sulfate-Mg2+ precipitation procedure for quantification of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Clin Chem. 28:1379–1388.[Free Full Text]
  35. Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS. 1972 Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without the use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 18:499–507.[Abstract]
  36. Webb GD, Poehlman ET, Tonino RP. 1993 Dissociation of changes in metabolic rate and blood pressure with erythrocyte Na-K pump activity in older men after endurance training. J Gerontol. 48:M47–M52.
  37. Ferrannini E, Natali A, Bell P, Cavallo-Perin P, Lalic N, Mingrone G. 1997 Insulin resistance and hypersecretion in obesity. European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR). J Clin Invest. 100:1166–1173.[Medline]
  38. Marin P, Andersson B, Ottosson M, et al. 1992 The morphology and metabolism of intraabdominal adipose tissue in men. Metabolism. 41:1242–1248.[CrossRef][Medline]
  39. Albu JB, Curi M, Shur M, Murphy L, Matthews DE, Pi-Sunyer FX. 1999 Systemic resistance to the antilipolytic effect of insulin in black and white women with visceral obesity. Am J Physiol. 277:E551–E560.
  40. Després JP, Lamarche B. 1994 Low-intensity endurance exercise training, plasma lipoproteins and the risk of coronary heart disease. J Intern Med. 236:7–22.[Medline]
  41. Couillard C, Lamarche B, Tchernof A, et al. 1996 Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not apolipoprotein A-I is a good correlate of the visceral obesity-insulin resistance dyslipidemic syndrome. Metabolism. 45:882–888.[CrossRef][Medline]
  42. Laws A, Reaven GM. 1992 Evidence for an independent relationship between insulin resistance and fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin concentrations. J Intern Med. 231:25–30.[Medline]
  43. Muscelli E, Camastra S, Gastaldelli A, et al. 1998 Influence of duration of obesity on the insulin resistance of obese non-diabetic patients. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 22:262–267.[CrossRef][Medline]
  44. Swinburn BA, Nyomba BL, Saad MF, et al. 1991 Insulin resistance associated with lower rates of weight gain in Pima Indians. J Clin Invest. 88:168–173.
  45. Ravussin E, Swinburn BA. 1993 Metabolic predictors of obesity: cross-sectional versus longitudinal data. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 17:S28–S31.
  46. Eckel RH. 1992 Insulin resistance: an adaptation for weight maintenance. Lancet. 340:1452–1453.[CrossRef][Medline]
  47. Simoneau JA, Colberg SR, Thaete FL, Kelley DE. 1995 Skeletal muscle glycolytic and oxidative enzyme capacities are determinants of insulin sensitivity and muscle composition in obese women. FASEB J. 9:273–278.
  48. Goodpaster BH, Kelley DE. 1998 Role of muscle in triglyceride metabolism. Curr Opin Lipidol. 9:231–236.[CrossRef][Medline]
  49. Goodpaster BH, Thaete FL, Simoneau JA, Kelley DE. 1997 Subcutaneous abdominal fat and thigh muscle composition predict insulin sensitivity independently of visceral fat. Diabetes. 46:1579–1585.[Abstract]
  50. Goodpaster BH, Thaete FL, Kelley DE. 2000 Thigh adipose tissue distribution is associated with insulin resistance in obesity and in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr. 71:885–892.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  51. Bogardus C, lillioja S, Mott DM, Hollenbeck C, Reaven G. 1985 Relationship between degree of obesity and in vivo insulin action in man. Am J Physiol. 248:E286–E291.
  52. National Institutes of Health. 1998 Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults–the evidence report. Obes Res. 6:51S–209S.



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
Z. T. Bloomgarden
The 6th Annual World Congress on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome
Diabetes Care, September 1, 2009; 32(9): e104 - e111.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J EndocrinolHome page
D. H St-Pierre, R. Rabasa-Lhoret, M.-E. Lavoie, A. D Karelis, I. Strychar, E. Doucet, and L. Coderre
Fiber intake predicts ghrelin levels in overweight and obese postmenopausal women
Eur. J. Endocrinol., July 1, 2009; 161(1): 65 - 72.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
N. Girerd, P. Pibarot, D. Fournier, P. Daleau, P. Voisine, G. O'Hara, J.-P. Despres, and P. Mathieu
Middle-aged men with increased waist circumference and elevated C-reactive protein level are at higher risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
Eur. Heart J., May 2, 2009; 30(10): 1270 - 1278.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
R. P. Wildman, P. Muntner, K. Reynolds, A. P. McGinn, S. Rajpathak, J. Wylie-Rosett, and M. R. Sowers
The Obese Without Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Clustering and the Normal Weight With Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Clustering: Prevalence and Correlates of 2 Phenotypes Among the US Population (NHANES 1999-2004)
Arch Intern Med, August 11, 2008; 168(15): 1617 - 1624.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. Misra, M. A. Bredella, P. Tsai, N. Mendes, K. K. Miller, and A. Klibanski
Lower growth hormone and higher cortisol are associated with greater visceral adiposity, intramyocellular lipids, and insulin resistance in overweight girls
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2008; 295(2): E385 - E392.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
N. Bouhours-Nouet, S. Dufresne, F. B. de Casson, E. Mathieu, O. Douay, F. Gatelais, S. Rouleau, and R. Coutant
High Birth Weight and Early Postnatal Weight Gain Protect Obese Children and Adolescents From Truncal Adiposity and Insulin Resistance: Metabolically healthy but obese subjects?
Diabetes Care, May 1, 2008; 31(5): 1031 - 1036.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical SciencesHome page
T. You, B. J. Nicklas, J. Ding, B. W. J. H. Penninx, B. H. Goodpaster, D. C. Bauer, F. A. Tylavsky, T. B. Harris, S. B. Kritchevsky, and for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
The Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated With Circulating Adipokines in Older Adults Across a Wide Range of Adiposity
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., April 1, 2008; 63(4): 414 - 419.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Lipid Res.Home page
R. MacLaren, W. Cui, S. Simard, and K. Cianflone
Influence of obesity and insulin sensitivity on insulin signaling genes in human omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue
J. Lipid Res., February 1, 2008; 49(2): 308 - 323.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DiabetesHome page
Y. S. Aulchenko, J. Pullen, W. P. Kloosterman, M. Yazdanpanah, A. Hofman, N. Vaessen, P. J.L.M. Snijders, D. Zubakov, I. Mackay, M. Olavesen, et al.
LPIN2 Is Associated With Type 2 Diabetes, Glucose Metabolism, and Body Composition
Diabetes, December 1, 2007; 56(12): 3020 - 3026.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
C A Daly, P Hildebrandt, M Bertrand, R Ferrari, W Remme, M Simoons, K M Fox, and on behalf of the EUROPA investigators
Adverse prognosis associated with the metabolic syndrome in established coronary artery disease: data from the EUROPA trial
Heart, November 1, 2007; 93(11): 1406 - 1411.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J EndocrinolHome page
D. H St-Pierre, J.-P. Bastard, L. Coderre, M. Brochu, A. D Karelis, M.-E. Lavoie, F. Malita, J. Fontaine, D. Mignault, K. Cianflone, et al.
Association of acylated ghrelin profiles with chronic inflammatory markers in overweight and obese postmenopausal women: a MONET study
Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2007; 157(4): 419 - 426.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
M. A. Marini, E. Succurro, S. Frontoni, M. L. Hribal, F. Andreozzi, R. Lauro, F. Perticone, and G. Sesti
Metabolically Healthy but Obese Women Have an Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk Profile Between Healthy Nonobese Women and Obese Insulin-Resistant Women
Diabetes Care, August 1, 2007; 30(8): 2145 - 2147.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. Carmina, S. Bucchieri, A. Esposito, A. Del Puente, P. Mansueto, F. Orio, G. Di Fede, and G. Rini
Abdominal Fat Quantity and Distribution in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Extent of Its Relation to Insulin Resistance
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2500 - 2505.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular DiseaseHome page
G. E Sonnenberg, G. Matfin, and R. R Reinhardt
Review: Drug treatments for obesity: where are we heading and how do we get there?
The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, May 1, 2007; 7(3): 111 - 117.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Board Fam MedHome page
N. S. Joo, B. T. Kim, S. B. Park, M. H. Kong, T. Y. Lee, and K. M. Kim
Different Waist Circumferences, Different Metabolic Risks in Koreans
J Am Board Fam Med, May 1, 2007; 20(3): 258 - 265.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
D. H. St-Pierre, A. D. Karelis, L. Coderre, F. Malita, J. Fontaine, D. Mignault, M. Brochu, J.-P. Bastard, K. Cianflone, E. Doucet, et al.
Association of Acylated and Nonacylated Ghrelin with Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight and Obese Postmenopausal Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2007; 92(1): 264 - 269.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
J. L. Turgeon, M. C. Carr, P. M. Maki, M. E. Mendelsohn, and P. M. Wise
Complex Actions of Sex Steroids in Adipose Tissue, the Cardiovascular System, and Brain: Insights from Basic Science and Clinical Studies
Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2006; 27(6): 575 - 605.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Lipid Res.Home page
K. McAuley and J. Mann
Thematic review series: Patient-Oriented Research. Nutritional determinants of insulin resistance
J. Lipid Res., August 1, 2006; 47(8): 1668 - 1676.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. B. Meigs, P. W. F. Wilson, C. S. Fox, R. S. Vasan, D. M. Nathan, L. M. Sullivan, and R. B. D'Agostino
Body Mass Index, Metabolic Syndrome, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes or Cardiovascular Disease
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 2906 - 2912.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
F. Bacha, R. Saad, N. Gungor, and S. A. Arslanian
Are Obesity-Related Metabolic Risk Factors Modulated by the Degree of Insulin Resistance in Adolescents?
Diabetes Care, July 1, 2006; 29(7): 1599 - 1604.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
A. D. Karelis, M. Faraj, J.-P. Bastard, D. H. St-Pierre, M. Brochu, D. Prud'homme, and R. Rabasa-Lhoret
The Metabolically Healthy but Obese Individual Presents a Favorable Inflammation Profile
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 4145 - 4150.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
T. You, A. S. Ryan, and B. J. Nicklas
The Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Postmenopausal Women: Relationship to Body Composition, Visceral Fat, and Inflammation
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2004; 89(11): 5517 - 5522.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am J EpidemiolHome page
B. J. Nicklas, B. W. J. H. Penninx, M. Cesari, S. B. Kritchevsky, A. B. Newman, A. M. Kanaya, M. Pahor, D. Jingzhong, and T. B. Harris
Association of Visceral Adipose Tissue with Incident Myocardial Infarction in Older Men and Women: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Am. J. Epidemiol., October 15, 2004; 160(8): 741 - 749.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
A. D. Karelis, D. H. St-Pierre, F. Conus, R. Rabasa-Lhoret, and E. T. Poehlman
Metabolic and Body Composition Factors in Subgroups of Obesity: What Do We Know?
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2004; 89(6): 2569 - 2575.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
B. J. Nicklas, B. W.J.H. Penninx, A. S. Ryan, D. M. Berman, N. A. Lynch, and K. E. Dennis
Visceral Adipose Tissue Cutoffs Associated With Metabolic Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Women
Diabetes Care, May 1, 2003; 26(5): 1413 - 1420.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
B. H. Goodpaster, S. Krishnaswami, H. Resnick, D. E. Kelley, C. Haggerty, T. B. Harris, A. V. Schwartz, S. Kritchevsky, and A. B. Newman
Association Between Regional Adipose Tissue Distribution and Both Type 2 Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Elderly Men and Women
Diabetes Care, February 1, 2003; 26(2): 372 - 379.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. Hoybye, A. Hilding, H. Jacobsson, and M. Thoren
Metabolic Profile and Body Composition in Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Severe Obesity
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2002; 87(8): 3590 - 3597.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Right arrow Articles by Poehlman, E. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brochu, M.
Right arrow Articles by Poehlman, E. T.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Obesity


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals