Diabetes & Metabolism Journal

Original Articles

Metabolic Risk/Epidemiology
Trends in Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity by Age, Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Income among United States Adults, 1999 to 2018: Wen Zeng, Weijiao Zhou, Junlan Pu, Juan Li, Xiao Hu, Yuanrong Yao, Shaomei Shang; Diabetes Metab J. 2025;49(3):475-484. Published online February 25, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2024.0364

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Background
This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among United States (US) adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income from 1999 to 2018.
Methods
We included 17,230 non-pregnant adults from a nationally representative cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MUO was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m² with any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was calculated, and linear regression models estimated trends in MUO.
Results
The weighted mean age of adults was 47.28 years; 51.02% were male, 74.64% were non-Hispanic White. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO continuously increased in adults across all subgroups during 1999–2018, although with different magnitudes (all P<0.05 for linear trend). Adults aged 45 to 64 years consistently had higher percentages of MUO from 1999–2000 (34.25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.85% to 42.66%) to 2017–2018 (42.03%; 95% CI, 35.09% to 48.97%) than the other two age subgroups (P<0.05 for group differences). The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was the highest among non-Hispanic Blacks while the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites in most cycles. Adults with high-income levels generally had lower MUO percentages from 1999–2000 (22.63%; 95% CI, 17.00% to 28.26%) to 2017–2018 (32.36%; 95% CI, 23.87% to 40.85%) compared with the other two subgroups.
Conclusion
This study detected a continuous linear increasing trend in MUO among US adults from 1999 to 2018. The persistence of disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and income is a cause for concern. This calls for implementing evidence-based, structural, and effective MUO prevention programs.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Addressing the Persistent Increase and Inequities in Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity: Toward an Understanding of Clinical Obesity
Young Sang Lyu, Sang Yong Kim
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2025; 49(3): 405. CrossRef
Liver and obesity: a narrative review
Amedeo Lonardo, Ralf Weiskirchen
Exploration of Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Eighteen-Year Trends in Korean Diabetic Patients(1981 through 1998).: Hyejin Lee, Kyung Ah Han, Kyung Wan Min, Eung Jin Kim; Korean Diabetes J. 2005;29(3):239-246. Published online May 1, 2005

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to determine trends in the age, gender, body mass index(BMI), and fasting blood glucose of the diagnosed Korean diabetic patients. METHODS: The medical records were obtained on 32,867 Korean diabetic patients who were treated at the Eulji Diabetes Center from 1981 to 1998. We investigated the age, gender, height, weight, BMI and fasting blood glucose. Regression analysis was used to analyze the time trends. RESULTS: BMI(from 23.2kg/m2 to 24.1kg/m2, P<0.001) and weight(from 59.6kg to 61.9kg, P<0.001) were gradually increased over the 18 years. and these factors were still significant after correction for age. The age of onset(from 45year to 51year, P<0.001) was also increased over the 18 years. The fasting blood glucose level was decreased from 10.2 mmol/L to 7.2mmol/L P<0.001). The portion of male patients was significantly decreased over the 18 years(from 52.1% to 47.4%). CONCLUSION: Over the 18years, the weight and BMI at the time of diagnosis were increased. And the onset age of diabetes was increased, according to an aging society. As it was easy to gain access the medical service, the fasting blood glucose level was decreased, and the prevalence of female patients was increased over 18 years in Korea

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