A new study to be presented at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting explores how changes in the shape of the gluteus maximus muscle can act as markers for detecting health problems, specifically in relation to type 2 diabetes.

However, this differs between men and women. women, and its shape It changes with lifestyle and aging factors and conditions such as osteoporosis and other ailments.

“Our work suggests that changes in the shape of the gluteus maximus muscle may act as an early structural marker of metabolic deterioration. Features such as focal thinning or outward bulging, often linked to fat accumulation, appear to reflect early structural alterations in the muscle,” Marjola Thanaj, study author and principal investigator at the University of Westminster, told Newsweek.

Gender Differences and Muscle Health

The findings indicate distinct patterns in muscle morphology between men and women with type 2 diabetes, reflecting biological differences that influence metabolic health.

Men show muscle contraction, while women show an increase in muscle size due to fat infiltration.

The research team explored data from 61,290 MRI scans from the UK Biobank in search of structural features and composition of the muscle.

It is noted that people with diabetes often suffer from musculoskeletal problems, which limits their ability to exercise and aggravates associated health problems. This serves as a starting point to highlight that the gluteus maximus plays a key role in metabolic health, explained the study's author, E. Louise Thomas, professor of metabolic imaging at the University of Westminster.

The opposing shapes indicate that “the same disease manifests differently in male and female muscles, “This highlights a biological sex difference that traditional muscle measurements don't capture,” Thanaj adds.

Clinical Implications

The results suggest that these changes can be used as clinical tools for monitoring muscle health,allowing healthcare professionals to better assess the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions over time.

The statistical approach used in the study opens the door to creating more personalized strategies for treating type 2 diabetes. Identifying specific muscle signatures can facilitate interventions better tailored to individual needs, improving patients' quality of life.

The findings highlighted the fundamental role of the gluteus maximus muscle in metabolic health. As research progresses, it is expected that shape analysis models will contribute to a better understanding of metabolic diseases, as well as facilitate the development of more effective and sex-specific clinical practices.

Thus, Newsweek gives us a preview of this study, which will be presented between the 30th and November and December 4th in Chicago