All-cause mortality risk of metabolically healthy abdominal obese individuals: The EPIC-MORGEN study

D.L. van der A, A.J.C. Nooyens, F.J.B. van Duijnhoven, M.W.W. Verschuren, J.M. Boer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective It appears that a certain proportion of obese individuals have a normal metabolic profile despite having excess weight. Whether these so-called “metabolically healthy” obese express lower disease and mortality risks than “metabolically unhealthy” obese is still unclear. The mortality risk of “metabolically healthy” abdominal obese (MHAO) individuals was investigated. Design and Methods Prospective cohort study (EPIC-MORGEN) among 22,654 individuals aged 20-59 years followed for an average of 13.4 years (SD 2.3). MHAO was assessed at baseline (1993-1997) and defined as abdominal obesity (waist circumference =102 cm/=88 cm (men/women)) with normal glucose, blood pressure, and plasma lipids. All-cause mortality risks adjusted for age and sex were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results Individuals who were “metabolically healthy” nonabdominal obese (MHNAO) comprised the reference group. As compared to MHNAO, mortality risk for MHAO was around 40% higher (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.04) and of the same magnitude as that for “metabolically unhealthy” nonabdominal obese (MUNAO) (HR 1.31; 95% CI: 1.08-1.59). The HR for MUAO was 1.99 (95% CI: 1.62-2.43). Conclusions Mortality risk of MHAO individuals was significantly higher than that of MHNAO individuals and lower than, but not statistically significantly different from, that of MUAO individuals.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)557-564
JournalObesity
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • physical-activity questionnaire
  • food frequency questionnaire
  • relative validity
  • cardiovascular-disease
  • mho individuals
  • cohort profile
  • weight-loss
  • women
  • prevalence
  • men

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