Sally D Poppitt, Jennifer Miles-Chan, Marta P Silvestre
{"title":"Prediabetes phenotypes: can aetiology and risk profile guide lifestyle strategies for diabetes prevention?","authors":"Sally D Poppitt, Jennifer Miles-Chan, Marta P Silvestre","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2532559","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2532559","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to worsen globally alongside rise in obesity. Asymptomatic dysglycaemia, which precedes T2D, provides opportunities to identify those at risk and target prevention but prediabetes is highly variable. Not all with overweight develop dysglycaemia and not all with dysglycaemia are overweight. Important is the deposition of ectopic lipids in the pancreas, liver, and muscle. With no international definition, several prediabetes phenotypes exist, each based on one or more components of fasting glucose, postprandial glucose and/or HbA<sub>1c</sub>.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We address variability in prediabetes phenotype and absence of a universal definition. With four main phenotypes based on the various glycemic definitions, it is likely they have different etiologies, risk profiles, timelines to T2D, and response to lifestyle intervention. Who do we treat, and when? Do we treat early or late? What is the optimum diet for T2D prevention? Do different phenotypes require different prevention approaches?</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Personalized lifestyle, or phenotype-specific treatments, are likely to be more successful for T2D prevention than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods, currently in their infancy, are expected to revolutionize personalized nutrition with integration of 'big data' better characterizing and predicting prediabetes phenotype, and phenotype-specific response to diet and lifestyle interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"361-371"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144616932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differential metabolic responses to very-low calorie diets in individuals with, and without type 2 diabetes: a review.","authors":"Oluwaseun Anyiam, Iskandar Idris","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2527791","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2527791","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Very-low calorie-diets (VLCD) are becoming increasingly popular for managing overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) is present in individuals living with overweight and obesity, with or without T2D. Results from metabolic studies investigating the effect of VLCD on beta cell function (BCF) and IR are inconsistent, despite the well-documented effects on weight and glycaemic control.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We undertook a narrative review of studies identified from PubMed and their associated reference lists, examining apparent discrepancies in the literature on this topic. Evidence broadly suggests a positive impact of VLCD, although the outcome being measured, and method of assessment could influence the observed effect. The VLCD duration is a critical factor, as longer-term interventions are required to consistently demonstrate improvements in BCF and peripheral IR. Hepatic IR appears to be particularly responsive to short-term caloric restriction.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>When interpreting metabolic results of VLCD intervention studies, particular attention must be paid to the selected method of assessing BCF and IR. Improvement in BCF exhibits significant heterogeneity, possibly related to individual participant's clinical characteristics. Beneficial effects on hepatic IR occur in the early stage of VCLD intervention, preceding changes in peripheral IR and BCF.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"373-384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of the potential value of treatment targets in obesity management.","authors":"Faisal Almohaileb, Carel W le Roux","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2516522","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2516522","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Treatment targets can be considered the threshold where treatments generate optimal health outcomes while causing minimal complications. Treatment targets often uses a surrogate measure for the disease process, but are linked with an important outcome of disease management. Unlike chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which have clear treatment targets, obesity management lacks defined therapeutic targets. Insights from other chronic diseases may improve patient outcomes. They guide care, assess therapy response, and reduce complications.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This article explores how treatment targets for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were developed, drawing on a narrative review of literature from 1950 to 2025 using PubMed and Embase. It examines how similar principles could inform obesity treatment, proposing early hypotheses like BMI ≤ 27 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and WHtR < 0.53 that warrant future validation.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Targets in chronic disease care reduce complications. While not yet validated, BMI ≤ 27 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and WHtR < 0.53 May serve as early anchors for structured obesity treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"353-359"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144283068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Digenic, oligogenic and genetic modifiers in disorders/differences of sex development (DSD).","authors":"Ken McElreavey, Maeva Elzaiat, Anu Bashamboo","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2529391","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2529391","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"345-347"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144583477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rhea Sibal, G Balamurugan, Yitka Graham, Kamal Mahawar
{"title":"Moving away from BMI: a new era of diagnostic criteria in obesity.","authors":"Rhea Sibal, G Balamurugan, Yitka Graham, Kamal Mahawar","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2537160","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2537160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obesity is a chronic, progressive, and heterogeneous disease defined by excess adiposity that impairs health. While Body Mass Index (BMI) remains the most used diagnostic tool, it is increasingly regarded as an inadequate measure of obesity. BMI does not account for inter-individual, including inter-ethnic variation in fat distribution, body composition and metabolic health. These limitations highlight the need for a more nuanced and clinically robust diagnostic framework in obesity.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This article examines the shortcomings of BMI as a diagnostic tool and explores a range of alternative metrics, including anthropometric indices, clinical staging systems and direct assessments of adiposity and metabolic dysfunction, drawing on a narrative review of literature from 1950 to 2025 using PubMed. We also review recent international expert consensus statements and updated clinical guidelines from leading health organizations.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Research progress in obesity diagnostics is expected to drive a shift away from BMI toward more clinically useful approaches. Future clinical practice could adopt more personalized management strategies, to guide prevention, diagnosis, and intervention in obesity care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"403-413"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144741681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria S Martinez-Cruz, Neesha Namasingh, Anastasia-Stefania Alexopoulos, Bryan C Batch, Matthew J Crowley, Hayden B Bosworth
{"title":"The forgotten - overcoming challenges in diabetes care for marginalized populations.","authors":"Maria S Martinez-Cruz, Neesha Namasingh, Anastasia-Stefania Alexopoulos, Bryan C Batch, Matthew J Crowley, Hayden B Bosworth","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2526200","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2526200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Diabetes disproportionately affects marginalized populations, leading to poorer glycemic control, higher complications, and reduced quality of life. Unequal access to care, mediated by multiple social determinants of health (SDoH), further exacerbates these risks. Addressing SDoH is crucial to mitigate health disparities and downstream impacts on the United States (U.S.) population and healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review explores SDoH that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including socio-economic (SE), geographic, cultural and linguistic, health literacy-related, psychologic, and systemic barriers to equitable diabetes care. We also explore evidence-based care strategies such as telehealth, social media and internet-based education strategies, integration of community health workers (CHW), integrated care models and policy changes.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>While small-scale interventions have demonstrated success in overcoming challenges in diabetes care for marginalized populations, significant research gaps remain. Studies focusing on long-term outcomes and addressing the root causes of disparities tied to SDoH are urgently needed. Furthermore, rather than merely characterizing SDoH, researchers and clinicians must actively address them at the patient, provider, and system levels. Advancing diabetes care and reducing disparities requires equity-focused policies, inclusive research, and culturally tailored interventions. Without systemic reforms, however, these advancements risk perpetuating existing inequalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"385-401"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144539722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adding empagliflozin to ongoing metformin improves metabolic profile, tg-g and fib-4 indexes and liver function tests in type 2 diabetic patients with NAFLDS, a clinical trial.","authors":"Yosra Pahlavan, Majid Ramezani, Majid Mirmohammadkhani, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Abbas Ziari, Habib Yaribeygi","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2550733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2025.2550733","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>SGLT2 inhibitors offer strong glucose-lowering effects in patients with T2DM, but their impact on MAFLD when added to ongoing metformin therapy is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of empagliflozin (a SGLT2 inhibitor) on metabolic profile, liver fibrosis index, and liver function tests in metformin-treated T2DM patients with MAFLD.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>This 12-week, prospective, single-center clinical trial enrolled 80 T2DM patients with MAFLD who were already receiving metformin but required further intervention. They received empagliflozin (10 mg/day) in addition to metformin (2000 mg/day). Metabolic parameters including FBS, HbA1c, Chol, TG, LDL, HDL, vitamin D3, ALT, ALP, and AST were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Triglyceride-glucose (TG-G) index and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were also calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-four patients completed the trial. Significant reductions were seen in FBS, HbA1c, Chol, LDL, TG, and TG-G index (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Liver markers ALT, AST, and FIB-4 also improved significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001 and <i>p</i> < 0.02, respectively). Although HDL, ALP, and vitamin D3 increased, these changes were not statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Adding empagliflozin to ongoing metformin significantly improved metabolic and liver-related markers in T2DM patients with MAFLD, supporting its therapeutic benefit in this population (Clinical Trial Registration: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/73164).</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Serge Rozenberg, Chloé Taelman, Jean Vandromme, Julie Piral, Aurélie Joris
{"title":"How to assess breast cancer risk in menopausal patients being treated with menopausal hormone therapy?","authors":"Serge Rozenberg, Chloé Taelman, Jean Vandromme, Julie Piral, Aurélie Joris","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2545937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2025.2545937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The administration of Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) needs to be evaluated in relation to the individual patient's indications for therapy and risk estimations, which include the Breast Cancer (BC) risk estimation.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We reviewed the lifetime BC risk and the associated mortality in relation to MHT use.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>For many patients with climacteric symptoms and/or osteoporosis, the balance is in favor of MHT use. The risk of breast cancer can be estimated using unmodifiable risk factors, such as the patient's personal and family history, the breast density assessed on her mammogram, and modifiable risk factors such as alcohol intake. In complex situations, prediction models can be used to guide decision-making. When the 5-year BC risk is low (below 3%), MHT can be prescribed; caution is needed in women with a risk between 3% and 6%, and MHT should generally be avoided when the risk is high, i.e. above 6%.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sarcopenic obesity: pathogenesis, epidemiology and management in older adults.","authors":"Costas Glavas, David Scott","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2543811","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2025.2543811","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Sarcopenic obesity is the confluence of low skeletal muscle mass and function with excess adiposity. Sarcopenic obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent among older adults and may contribute to greater risk of functional decline, falls, fractures and mortality than sarcopenia or obesity alone.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This narrative expert review, based on targeted literature searches and the authors' personal libraries, outlines the current understanding of sarcopenic obesity, including its multifactorial pathophysiology. We also describe the current operational definition and estimated prevalence in older populations, and its impact on musculoskeletal and cardiometabolic health. Evidence from interventional studies exploring the use of targeted multimodal lifestyle behavior interventions, with a focus on the primary role of exercise and caloric restriction, to address sarcopenic obesity and its consequences is presented. Finally, we discuss recommendations for clinical practice and future research aimed at optimizing body composition and physical function in older adults.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite a lack of consistent evidence on its prevalence, it is clear that sarcopenic obesity conveys serious health consequences. Further research is required to determine the optimal approaches to its diagnosis and management, but this should not act as a barrier to assessment and intervention in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Implications of the era of incretin-based weight loss therapy in menopause.","authors":"Santiago Palacios","doi":"10.1080/17446651.2025.2540000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2025.2540000","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12107,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144741680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}