An ADEMA study shows that fat composition and distribution are key predictors of diabetes
>> The research, based on a sample of more than 418,000 workers in Spain, is one of the largest epidemiological studies on metabolic health conducted in the country and was led by ADEMA in collaboration with researchers from IDISBA and the Servei de Salut. >>Hidden obesity and visceral fat, not just weight, are the silent enemies. In women, the formula showed a greater ability to predict diabetes risk, while in men it was more effective at predicting prediabetes. Research conducted by the ADEMA University School, in collaboration with researchers from the Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IDISBA) and the Balearic Islands Health Service (IB-Salut), demonstrates that the composition and distribution of body fat are decisive factors in predicting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, even in people of normal weight. The research was based on a sample of more than 418,000 workers in Spain, making it one of the largest epidemiological studies on metabolic health conducted in the country. The ECORE-BF formula was applied to each participant and compared with the main international models for predicting the risk of type 2 diabetes: FINDRISC, Q Diabetes, CANRISK, TRAQ-D, and PRISQ. The results confirmed that ECORE-BF offers better predictive capacity than current models, with a more accurate estimate and greater ease of application in clinical and population settings. The research, published in the scientific journal Medicina Lithuania, validates the effectiveness of the ECORE-BF equation (Cordoba Equation for Estimating Body Fat), developed by the University of Cordoba in 2019. This formula allows for the accurate estimation of body fat percentage from three basic data points: age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). According to Dr. Arturo López, principal investigator and R&D director at ADEMA, “the results were conclusive. The ECORE-BF showed exceptional predictive capacity with an area under the curve (AUC) greater than 0.95 in all models and for both sexes. This indicates a level of accuracy close to 100 percent in identifying people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.” “Our findings confirm that not only body weight, but above all the composition and distribution of fat—especially visceral fat—are key in the development of diabetes,” Dr. López noted. The ECORE-BF equation stands out for its simplicity of calculation: it only requires three data points (age, sex and the person’s BMI) and allows for an accurate estimate of the percentage of body fat, without the need for expensive tests such as magnetic resonance imaging or densitometry (DXA). This ease of use makes the ECORE-BF a valuable tool for primary care, occupational medicine, public health programs, population screenings, and even personal self-assessment. Furthermore, its validation with data from such a large and diverse sample lends it significant scientific rigor. “We have an opportunity to change the prevention paradigm. This approach can anticipate traditional clinical diagnoses and allow for early intervention with healthy habits, before the disease manifests itself,” explained Dr. Arturo López. Hidden obesity and visceral fat: the silent enemies The study also highlights that many people with a normal weight, according to conventional BMI, nevertheless have high levels of internal adiposity or visceral fat, the main culprit behind metabolic impairment. This phenomenon, known as “hidden obesity,” often goes undetected in routine checkups. The ECORE-BF allows for the identification of this type of silent risk, providing a more comprehensive view of patients’ metabolic health. Differences between sexes were also significant. In women, the formula showed a greater capacity to predict the risk of diabetes, while in men it was more effective at predicting prediabetes. The authors of the study propose integrating ECORE-BF as a complementary tool in the early detection of diabetes, especially in workplaces, schools, municipal campaigns, and populations with limited access to diagnostic resources. Furthermore, they emphasize the need for longitudinal studies analyzing how reducing visceral fat through physical activity and a healthy diet can decrease the risk of diabetes in individuals with elevated ECORE-BF scores.
ADEMA will collaborate with ADAA and ABACCO to promote training, research, and support in health.
>> The heads of both institutions emphasize the importance of these agreements to advance the care of patients and families. >> The agreements strengthen cooperation between universities, social organizations, and the healthcare sector to promote comprehensive patient care and practical training for students. The ADEMA+ Foundation has signed collaboration agreements with the Association for Helping Patients with Malalt in the Balearic Islands (ADAA) and the Balearic Association of Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and Ostomy Patients (ABACCO) with the aim of jointly developing social, educational, and scientific programs aimed at improving healthcare, nutrition, and support for patients and their families in the Balearic Islands. These agreements are part of ADEMA’s commitment to applied research and university education at the service of society. The collaborations will allow for the promotion of projects that combine teaching, professional practice, social intervention, and research, reinforcing the role of support as an essential element in the comprehensive care of individuals. ADEMA President Diego González emphasized that “these agreements represent an opportunity for our University School, through our ADEMA+ Foundation, to put knowledge at the service of citizen well-being, generating a real impact on the health and quality of life of those most in need. ADEMA works with an innovative educational methodology based on service-learning projects and is committed to consolidating a model that combines training, research, and active support through practice and clinical care.” For her part, ADAA Manager Mª Mercedes Alvarado emphasized that “this agreement reinforces the value of support throughout the disease process, where nutrition and overall well-being are key. Having the support of a committed university institution like ADEMA will allow us to continue advancing in the care of families and caregivers.” Along the same lines, ABACCO President Yolanda Fernández explained that “for people with inflammatory bowel diseases, proper nutritional guidance and multidisciplinary follow-up are essential. This agreement opens up a valuable avenue of collaboration that will allow us to offer more comprehensive support to our members and improve their quality of life.” According to the agreements, both students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and those of Dentistry will be able to complete external curricular internships at the signatory associations, under the academic supervision of the ADEMA University Clinic. These internships will allow students to acquire clinical, social, and research skills in real-life contexts of patient and family care and support. Joint research projects, seminars, workshops, and scientific conferences will also be promoted, in addition to the exchange of knowledge between teaching staff, researchers, and healthcare and social care professionals. These initiatives will also include programs for continuous improvement in nutritional care and personalized follow-up for patients referred by the associations. Both agreements will initially be valid for the 2025-2026 academic year, with the possibility of annual extension. They are part of the social responsibility policy of the ADEMA University School and its ADEMA+ Foundation, which aims to foster collaboration between the academic community, healthcare professionals, and relevant social organizations.
More than 8,400 schoolchildren and more than 70 educational centers have participated in ADEMA’s Oral Health and Nutritional Habits Observatory programs to prevent oral diseases and obesity.
>> This initiative, which has been awarded by European, national and local institutions, involves a multidisciplinary team of researchers, professors and students carrying out various activities to promote oral health, healthy nutrition and oral examination. >> For the upcoming school year, around 1,300 schoolchildren from schools in Palma and the surrounding area will participate in activities such as oral examinations, activities to raise awareness about how to prevent oral diseases and develop healthy eating habits, as well as workshops on physical activity and health. Since 2018, more than 8,400 preschool, primary, and secondary school children from more than 70 public, state-subsidized, and private schools in Mallorca have participated in the “Healthy Smiles” program, developed by the Oral Health and Nutritional Habits Observatory of the ADEMA University School. This initiative, which has received awards from various institutions such as the Association for European Dental Education (ADEE), which brings together all the dental schools in Europe, the Spanish Society of Epidemiology and Oral Public Health (SESPO), and the Ministry of Health of the Balearic Islands Government, among others, combines scientific research, teaching, and direct action among the school population, with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyle habits from an early age and actively contributing to disease prevention. Over the past six years, a multidisciplinary team of teachers, researchers, and students from the Dentistry and Nutrition degrees, as well as from various vocational training courses, has developed practical workshops, awareness-raising sessions, and oral examinations with a clearly preventative focus. In the 2024-2025 academic year alone, nearly 1,100 schoolchildren participated in the activities, from the Early Childhood (214 students), Primary (725), and Secondary (160) stages, spread across the first (450) and second semesters (650). For the 2025-2026 academic year, approximately 1,300 students from different centers in Mallorca are also expected to attend. The students have participated in activities such as oral examinations, activities to raise awareness about how to prevent oral diseases and develop healthy eating habits, as well as workshops on physical activity and health, promoting a holistic view of well-being from childhood. According to the project coordinator, Dr. Carla Busquets, “This program has been very well received by schools in Mallorca from the very beginning. We work with an innovative educational methodology based on practical project-based learning, in which cooperative and service-based work are essential, and students’ autonomy and decision-making skills are fostered. Everyone participates, including teachers and students from university degrees and vocational training courses.” During this latest edition, the workshops were held in around fifteen schools spread across the island, including Palma, Llucmajor, Pollença, Mancor de la Vall, and Santanyí. Participating were public schools such as Camilo José Cela, Cas Capiscol, Son Ferriol, Felip Bauçà, Son Rullan, Montaura, and Son Verí, as well as state-subsidized schools such as Balmes, San José de la Montaña, San Alfonso María de Ligorio, Sant Vicenç de Paül, and Sant Josep Obrer. Secondary schools such as Santanyí Secondary School and S’Algar, which integrates secondary education stages, also participated. This territorial and typological diversity has allowed the content to be adapted to different educational and social contexts, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the program. For Dr. Pere Riutord, head of studies for the Bachelor in Dentistry and president of the ADEMA Research Advisory Council, “our teams provide knowledge through experiential workshops for schoolchildren and young people to implement measures for early detection of oral health risks or the presence of disease, as well as provide advice on healthy habits. The best way to prevent oral diseases is to brush your teeth properly and adopt habits that promote oral health, such as reducing the consumption of sugary foods, practicing effective oral hygiene, using fluoride, and preventing dental trauma.” Along these same lines, the head of studies for the Bachelor in Nutrition, Dr. Alicia Julibert, emphasized that “a healthy, varied, and balanced diet contributes to improving overall health and preventing disease. From a prevention perspective, we must focus on the most disadvantaged sectors of society in order to design appropriate strategies to improve the oral and nutritional health of those most in need, as recent studies confirm.”