Age-Wise Examination Of The Association Between Obesity Index And Metabolic Diseases In Ningen Dock Participants

Obesity causes various diseases including metabolic diseases; thus, it is important to assess it properly. However, some previous studies have reported that overweight, based on body mass index (BMI), is associated with a low mortality risk. Furthermore, it has been shown that visceral fat mass tends to increase with age, but not body weight. Therefore, the association between obesity indexes and metabolic disease risk may vary by age. PURPOSE: To determine the obesity index reflecting the metabolic disease risk by age group in Ningen Dock, a comprehensive health checkup system, participants. METHODS: Overall, 19,079 individuals aged ≥18 years were included, and obesity indexes, BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), and body roundness index (BRI) were investigated. Hypertension (HT) was identified by systolic and diastolic blood pressure and medication; diabetes mellitus (DM) by fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels and medication; and dyslipidemia (DL) by high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels and medication. The participants were divided into five age groups: 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥ 75 years. Logistic regression analyses were performed by age group and sex. RESULTS: There were 4,036, 860, and 7,379 individuals with HT, DM, and DL, respectively. BMI, WC, WHtR, and BRI were significantly associated with HT and DL in all age groups in both sexes after adjusting for age and exercise habits (all, p < 0.05). ABSI was significantly associated with HT in men aged 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74 years and women aged 45-54 and 55-64 years (all, p < 0.05). Furthermore, ABSI was associated with DL only in men aged 18-44 and 45-54 years and women aged 18-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years (all, p < 0.05). Regarding DM, except ABSI in women, all obesity indices were significantly associated in participants of both sexes aged 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74 years (all, p < 0.05). In contrast, no obesity index was significantly associated with DM in participants aged ≥75 years. CONCLUSIONS: BMI, WC, WHtR, and BRI may consistently reflect the metabolic disease risk in individuals aged 18-74 years. In those aged ≥75 years, BMI, WC, WHtR, and BRI reflected the risk of HT and DL, and no obesity index reflected the DM risk.