Associations of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in Young Adulthood with Later Life Incident Diabetes
Abstract Context The independent contribution of young adult exposure to overweight and obesity to later life incident diabetes is not well studied. Objective To assess the associations of exposures to elevated body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in young adulthood (ages 18 to 39 years) with incident diabetes later in life (≥40 years). Design Pooled data from six US prospective cohorts (ARIC, CARDIA, CHS, Framingham Offspring, Health ABC, MESA). Setting Population-based cohort studies. Participants 30,780 participants (56.1% female, 69.8% non-Hispanic White) without a diagnosis of diabetes by age 40. Interventions We imputed BMI and WC trajectories from age 18 for every participant and estimated time-weighted average exposures to BMI or WC during young adulthood and later life. Main Outcome Measure(s) Incident diabetes defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, non-fasting glucose ≥200 mg/dL, or use of diabetes medications. Results During a 9-year median follow-up, 4,323 participants developed incident diabetes. Young adult BMI and WC were associated with later life incident diabetes after controlling for later life exposures (hazard ratios [HR] 1.99 for BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 and 2.13 for WC >88cm [women]/>102cm [men] compared to normal ranges). Young adult homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) mediated 49% and 44% of the association between BMI and WC with later life incident diabetes. HDL and triglycerides mediated a smaller proportion of these associations. Conclusions Elevated BMI and WC during young adulthood were independently associated with later life incident diabetes. Insulin resistance appears to be a key mediator.