Relationship between body mass index and 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in patients with obesity
Authors' conclusion
These findings emphasize that elevated post-dexamethasone cortisol levels in patients with obesity should not be attributed to body weight alone but warrant appropriate evaluation for true hypercortisolism, with clinical interpretation guided by metabolic phenotype rather than BMI.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) who underwent 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST), February 2019–August 2023; median age 41 years, 80.7% female
- Participants
- 352 adults
- Exposure
- BMI categories 30.0-39.9 vs 40.0-49.9 vs ≥50.0 kg/m²
- BMI 30.0-39.9 kg/m²n = 64reference
- BMI 40.0-49.9 kg/m²n = 202
- BMI ≥50.0 kg/m²n = 86
- Outcome
- Post-dexamethasone cortisol levels across BMI categories
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Post-dexamethasone cortisol across BMI categories
- Post-dexamethasone cortisol showed modest differences across BMI categories
- p = 0.038
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Inadequate cortisol suppression after 1 mg DST
- Inadequate cortisol suppression after 1 mg DST — Overall inadequate suppression
- four patients (1.1%)
Hypertension
- Higher hypertension rate in patients with super obesity vs other BMI categories
- 36% vs. 18.7-22.2%, p = 0.021
Diabetes
- Higher diabetes rate in patients with super obesity vs other BMI categories
- 30.2% vs. 16.8-18.7%, p = 0.033
Original publication
Relationship between body mass index and 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in patients with obesity. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 3 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →