Key result
Female sex and metabolic risk factors link to higher adipose insulin resistance, attenuating at higher BMI.
Why the study?
Adipose tissue insulin resistance is related to metabolic disorders, but evidence regarding sex differences in adipose insulin resistance remains limited.
Cross-Sectional (n=9,935)
Adipose tissue insulin resistance is linked to metabolic risk factors and shows sex differences that attenuate with increasing obesity and hyperlipidemia.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Adipose insulin resistance associates with female sex and metabolic factors; leaves open causal roles and need for prospective studies before clinical adoption.
Introduction and Objective: Adipose tissue insulin resistance(IR) is related with metabolic disorders. However, evidence regarding sex differences in adipose IR remains limited. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adipose IR and to examine sex differences and their potential modifiers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 9,935 adults undergoing routine physical examinations. Adipose IR index(Adipo-IR) was calculated as the product of the fasting insulin and free fatty acid concentration. Multivariable linear regression models were used to identify independent predictors of Adipo-IR after adjustment for potential confounders, and effect modification of sex differences was assessed. Adipo-IR was log-transformed, and age was modeled using natural cubic splines with four degrees of freedom. Results: Female sex(β=0.25, P<0.001), higher BMI, hyperlipidemia (β=0.18, P<0.001), hypertension(β=0.14, P<0.001), hyperuricemia(β=0.16, P<0.001), and diabetes(β=0.32, P<0.001) were independently associated with higher Adipo-IR after adjustment for other confounders. Overall, women exhibited higher Adipo-IR than men. This sex difference progressively attenuated across BMI categories, with differences of 1.32, 1.29, and 1.18 units (μIU/mL*mmol/L) for BMI <24, 24 to <28, and ≥28 kg/m², respectively (P for interaction=0.014). A similar attenuation was observed by lipid status, with differences of 1.36 units in normolipidemic participants and 1.23 units in those with hyperlipidemia(P for interaction<0.001). Age demonstrated a U-shaped association with Adipo-IR both in women and men(P for non-linearity<0.001). Adipo-IR declined with increasing age before 52.7 years and increased thereafter. Conclusion: Adipose IR is closely linked to multiple metabolic risk factors and displays distinct age- and sex-specific patterns. The sex difference in Adipose IR was attenuated with increasing obesity and in the presence of hyperlipidemia.
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Wei et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Adipose tissue insulin resistance (n=9,935). Female sex and metabolic risk factors vs. Male sex and absence of metabolic risk factors was evaluated on Adipose IR index (Adipo-IR) (β=0.25, p=<0.001). Female sex (β=0.25, P<0.001) and metabolic risk factors were independently associated with higher adipose insulin resistance, with sex differences attenuating at higher BMI.
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