Transition from preclinical obesity to clinical obesity among US adults: incidences and risk factors
Authors' conclusion
Progression from preclinical to clinical obesity is relatively common.
Study context
- Population
- US adults in the All of Us dataset with no, preclinical or clinical obesity; obesity = ≥2 of body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m², elevated waist circumference, elevated waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) >0.50, or BMI ≥40 kg/m²
- Participants
- 319,815 adults
- Exposure
- No obesity vs Preclinical obesity vs Clinical obesity
- Preclinical obesityn = 92,396
- Outcome
- Transition from preclinical to clinical obesity (new onset of related conditions over follow-up)
- Follow-up
- Median 2.9 years
Methodological detailsAll of Us dataset, Cox models with multivariable adjustment
- All of Us dataset
- Cox models with multivariable adjustment
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Transition from preclinical to clinical obesity
| Group | Value | Cumulative incidence at 1 year | Cumulative incidence at 3 years | Cumulative incidence at 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preclinical obesity | 26.0% | 12.7% | 25.7% | 34.3% |
Preclinical obesity
Value26.0%
Cumulative incidence at 1 year12.7%
Cumulative incidence at 3 years25.7%
Cumulative incidence at 5 years34.3%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Preclinical obesity | Clinical obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity status at baseline | 28.9% | 40.0% |
Risk factors for transition (adjusted Cox model)
- Older age, elevated HbA1c, higher BMI, higher WHR, higher WHtR, insurance coverage and poorer self-reported overall health were strongly and independently associated with greater likelihood of transition
- Multivariable adjustment
Original publication
Transition from preclinical obesity to clinical obesity among US adults: incidences and risk factors. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 21 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →