Relationships between estimates of adiposity, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a large group of nondiabetic Korean adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a major health problem in parallel with an increasing prevalence of obesity. Insulin resistance and abdominal and overall adiposity are closely associated with NAFLD; however, the interplay between them in the relationship with NAFLD is unclear, especially in nondiabetic individuals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Abdominal ultrasound, hepatitis serology, and measurements of fasting plasma insulin (FPI), lipid concentrations, overall obesity (BMI), and abdominal obesity (waist circumference) were performed in 56,249 Korean subjects. RESULTS: After rigorous exclusion criteria, 36,654 nondiabetic subjects (54% male) were enrolled..