HOMA-IR
HOMA-IR is a simple calculation from a fasting blood test that estimates how insulin-resistant your body is — a higher score is an early warning sign for diabetes and stubborn weight gain.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
HOMA-IR is a calculation that estimates how insulin-resistant your body is, using a simple fasting blood test. It stands for Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance. A higher score means your body needs more insulin to control blood sugar, which is an early warning sign for diabetes and weight gain.
Medical
Clinical Definition
The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is calculated as fasting serum insulin (mU/L) × fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) ÷ 22.5. It is a validated surrogate of hepatic and whole-body insulin resistance and correlates well with the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp. In Asian populations, cut-offs around 1.8–2.5 are commonly used to define insulin resistance; elevated HOMA-IR predicts progression to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
HOMA-IR can reveal insulin resistance years before diabetes appears — and insulin resistance makes weight loss harder. Knowing your score helps us tailor treatment, because the right approach differs when insulin resistance is present.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
