The role of insulin resistance in the relation of visceral, abdominal subcutaneous and total body fat to cardiovascular function

•We examined the separate relations of HOMA-IR and body fat to cardiac remodeling.•All adipose tissue depots were associated with reduced diastolic function.•Visceral but not total body fat was related to a smaller left ventricular volume.•HOMA-IR was linked to diastolic dysfunction, separately from body fat.•HOMA-IR mediated the relation of body fat to diastolic dysfunction.