Trends in the Prevalence of Metabolically Healthy Obesity Among US Adults, 1999-2018
Authors' conclusion
The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that the age-standardized proportion of MHO increased among US adults from 1999 to 2018, but differences in trends existed across sociodemographic subgroups. Effective strategies are needed to improve metabolic health status and prevent obesity-related complications in adults with obesity.
Study context
- Population
- US adults, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000 to 2017–2018; weighted mean (SE) age 47.1 (0.2) years, 50.8% women, 68.8% non-Hispanic White7,386 with obesity
- Participants
- 20,430 adults
- Exposure
- NHANES cycles 1999-2002 vs 2015-2018
- Outcome
- Age-standardized prevalence of MHO (BMI 30.0 without any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, FPG, HDL-C or TG), trends by logistic regression
Methodological detailssurvey study, nationally representative, 10 NHANES cycles 1999-2000 to 2017-2018, Data analyzed November 2021 to August 2022
- Survey study
- Nationally representative
- 10 NHANES cycles 1999-2000 to 2017-2018
- Data analyzed November 2021 to August 2022
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001 for trend
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Age-standardized prevalence of MHO among all adultsIncreased | P < 0.001 for trend |
Proportion of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) by sociodemographic subgroup
- Substantial increases in MHO proportion in adults aged ≥60 years, men, non-Hispanic White individuals, and those with higher income, private insurance, or class I obesity
Age-standardized prevalence of elevated TG
- Significant decrease
- from 44.9% [40.9%-48.9%] to 29.0% [25.7%-32.4%]; P < .001 for trend
Age-standardized prevalence of reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
- Significant decrease
- from 51.1% [47.6%-54.6%] to 39.6% [36.3%-43.0%]; P = .006 for trend
Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
- Significant increase
- from 49.7% [95% CI, 46.3%-53.0%] to 58.0% [54.8%-61.3%]; P < .001 for trend
Elevated blood pressure
- No significant change
- from 57.3% [53.9%-60.7%] to 54.0% [50.9%-57.1%]; P = .28 for trend
Original publication
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