Groundbreaking research from the UK suggests that the shape of your bottom could hold vital clues about your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A new study indicates that specific changes in the gluteus maximus muscle are linked to the metabolic disease, offering a potential new early warning system.
3D Mapping Reveals Muscle Secrets
Researchers from the University of Westminster employed advanced 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyse the gluteus maximus in unprecedented detail. Their work, set to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, moved beyond simple measurements of size or fat to create detailed shape maps of the muscle.
Dr Marjola Thanaj, the study's lead author and a bioengineering expert, explained the innovation. 'Unlike past studies that mainly looked at muscle size or fat, we used 3D shape mapping to pinpoint exactly where the muscle changes, giving a much more detailed picture,' she stated.
The team analysed a vast dataset of nearly 61,300 MRI exams from the UK Biobank, also incorporating participants' physical measurements, medical history, lifestyle data, and disease biomarkers.
Stark Differences Between Men and Women
The findings revealed a surprising divergence between the sexes. Men with type 2 diabetes were found to experience muscle shrinkage in the glutes. In contrast, women with the condition tended to have enlarged muscle, which researchers attribute to a build-up of fat within the gluteal tissue.
The study also connected muscle shape to overall fitness and frailty. People with higher fitness levels, measured by vigorous physical activity and hand grip strength, had a greater gluteus maximus shape. Conversely, aging, frailty, and long periods of sitting were linked to muscle thinning.
Dr Thanaj highlighted the gendered response, noting, 'Men considered 'frail' also had more general shrinkage across the muscle, whereas the effect of aging was limited to smaller areas in women.' This suggests men and women have distinctly different biological reactions to the same health conditions.
A Marker for Metabolic Health
The gluteus maximus is one of the body's largest muscles and plays a crucial role in metabolic health—the efficiency with which the body processes fats and sugars and responds to insulin. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it, leading to dangerously high blood sugar levels.
This new research concludes that shape changes in the gluteus maximus could serve as an early indicator of type 2 diabetes, reflecting sex-specific differences in insulin tolerance. This reinforces the concept that individuals with a seemingly 'healthy' Body Mass Index (BMI) can still be at risk if their body fat distribution exceeds a personal threshold.
With an estimated 12 million people in the UK living with prediabetes or diabetes—including 4.6 million diagnosed with type 2—this finding is significant. Health professionals now advise monitoring not just waist size, but also changes in glute shape, as potential indicators of declining metabolic health.
