Obesity measurements and neuropathy

Obesity is a global pandemic that raises the risk of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating condition caused by damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, often leading to numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness—especially in the hands and feet. In this study, published in the European Journal of Neurology, researchers led by Brian Callaghan, M.D., M.S., and Eva L. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neurology, sought to develop a more detailed way to measure obesity in order to better identify people with diabetes who may be at higher risk for developing peripheral neuropathy.  They also wanted to see if these measures are related to painful nerve symptoms.

They discovered that many measures of obesity were associated with neuropathy, but none were linked to painful nerve symptoms. Interestingly, fat distribution played a bigger role for women, with abdominal fat being the most accurate indicator of neuropathy. In men, fat location did not significantly affect how well obesity predicted neuropathy.

“These results continue to emphasize the importance of obesity leading to injury of the peripheral nervous system,” explained Dr. Callaghan. “Future interventions focusing on improving obesity are needed to improve neuropathy outcomes for the large number of people at risk for this common and disabling condition.”

Other authors: Evan L. Reynolds, Ph.D., from Michigan State University; David Russman, and Eva L. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Michigan; and Georgios Baskozos, MSc, Ph.D., and David L. Bennet, MBBS, Ph.D., from the University of Oxford.

Funding for this research includes the National Institutes of Health, the Andrea and Lawrence A. Wolfe Brain Health Initiative Fund, the Nathan and Rose Milstein Research Fund, the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation, and the Sinai Medical Health Foundation.

Paper cited: Reynolds EL, Russman D, Baskozos G, Feldman EL, Bennett DL, Callaghan BC. The Association Between Detailed Obesity Measurements and Peripheral Neuropathy in Persons With Diabetes. Eur J Neurol. 2025 Dec;32(12):e70447. doi: 10.1111/ene.70447. PMID: 41351325; PMCID: PMC12680906.