Fatness, fat distribution, and glucose tolerance in second-generation Japanese-American (Nisei) men.

The association between amount and distribution of fat and glucose tolerance was examined in 229 second-generation Japanese-American men. According to the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and by World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria, 79 men were normal, 72 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 78 had noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diagnostic groups were compared by using 10 measures of fatness derived from body mass indices, skinfold thicknesses, and fat areas, which were determined by computed tomography. IGT men were fatter than normal men on five measures; diabetic men were fatter on four and group differences were marginally significant (p greater than or equal to 0.03). Diabetic subjects had the largest deposits of subscapular (p = 0.01) and more biceps fat than normal men (p = 0.01); IGT men had more midthigh fat than diabetic men (p = 0.01). The diabetes and IGT groups possessed more intraabdominal fat (p = 0.003). For serum glucose levels there was an interaction between body mass index and subscapular fat.