Methods are provided for treating or prophylactically preventing metabolic disorders in humans without causing, promoting, or aggravating fluid retention, peripheral edema, pulmonary edema, or congestive heart failure, by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound sufficient to partially or fully activate peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and partially or fully inhibit, antagonize or block the activity of angiotensin II type 1 receptors. Metabolic disorders that can be treated or prevented include but are not limited to type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and other insulin resistance syndromes. Compounds are provided that antagonize or block the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, function as partial or full activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), can be used to treat or prevent diseases known to be treatable or preventable by PPAR activators and were not previously recognized to be therapeutic targets for angiotensin II receptor antagonists.