MRI Body Scans Predict Diabetes and Death Better Than BMI
Based on: Body Composition in the General Population: Whole-body MRI-derived Reference Curves from Over 66 000 Individuals.
Researchers used whole-body MRI scans from over 66,000 people to map fat and muscle in detail. High visceral fat more than doubled diabetes risk, while low muscle mass raised death risk by 44%. These measures predicted disease beyond what standard risk factors could catch. The team made their calculator free online.
Key Insight
This study suggests that visceral fat and muscle mass may reveal health risks that BMI misses.
Original Paper
Jung M, Reisert M, Rieder H, Rospleszcz S, Haueise T, Pischon T, Niendorf T, Kauczor HU, Völzke H, Bülow R, Russe MF, Schlett CL, Lu MT, Bamberg F, Raghu VK, Weiss J
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Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.