Title: Developing Prediabetes at a Normal Weight
When my father was diagnosed with Pre-diabetes he was at a 'normal weight'. His BMI was 25. BMI stands for body mass index and it is generally used in the clinic to classify body weight. A normal BMI in the USA is between 20-25. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 of greater.
Here is a reliable BMI calculator to estimate yours.
Is it common to develop Pre-diabetes and/or type 2 diabetes at a normal weight? What is happening and why?
We are going to hear time and again that Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are due to obesity. That's not technically true! Current CDC data suggests that around 10% of us have a BMI less than 30 (3). And in the 1970's and 1980's UKPDS study, 30% of people living with Type 2 Diabetes had a BMI of 25 or less (1). We are getting heavier as a nation and with that we are seeing fewer people, on average, with a normal BMI develop Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes... But it does happen.
This common misnomer comes from epidemiological research (population studies) that shows that increasing weight corresponds with increasing risk for Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Which is true.
On a population level, we do see that most of us who are diagnosed with Pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes tend to be carrying more weight (shown in the graph below).
This is where genetics plays a roll. We each have a personal bodyweight set-point where we will develop insulin resistance based on how many calories our body can safely store. Some of us will develop insulin resistance while still appearing relatively thin, while others may gain a significant amount of weight and yet never exceed this threshold.
The weight at which we each personally develop Pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes is very specific to our body. The rate of weight gain may also play a role but I am not aware of any convincing research on this (let me know if you find any). We call the weight at which an individual develops Pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes the "Personal Fat Threshold", coined by Roy Taylor, a professor and researcher in the UK.
When my father was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, he had reached his Personal Fat Threshold. It took eating differently and losing weight to reverse this for him and he remains free from prediabetes 2+ years later.
If you are looking for more information on how to reverse insulin resistance, the cause of Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, then reach out to Jessica Krol, FNP, DipACLM here at Lifestyle Medicine Maine. Schedule a FREE online consult today and commit to making insulin resistance a thing of the past. Our 12 Live Weight Loss and Wellness Group Program is designed to combat the underlying cause of chronic health condition like Pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Sign up today.
References
Normal weight individuals who develop Type 2 diabetes: the personal fat threshold. Taylor and Holman. Clinical Science. (2015) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Taylor-Roy-4/publication/269773633_Normal_weight_individuals_who_develop_Type_2_diabetes_the_personal_fat_threshold/links/650aa27682f01628f032ee45/Normal-weight-individuals-who-develop-Type-2-diabetes-the-personal-fat-threshold.pdf
Image source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
National Diabetes Statistics. CDC. (access March 2024) https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html
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