Factors associated with normal-weight obesity in adolescents

Abstract

A new phenotype of obesity has been studied: normal-weight obesity (NWO), which describes individuals with normal-weight by body mass index (BMI) and excess body fat. Despite normal-weight, individuals with NWO have a higher cardiometabolic risk. There is still a gap in the literature on the subject, especially in adolescents, as studies with this population are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the sociodemographic factors, family history of chronic non-communicable diseases, body perception, lifestyle and food consumption associated with NWO in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted with 506 normal-weight adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, of both sexes. Weight and height were obtained and BMI/age was calculated. Body fat analysis was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Sociodemographic data, level of physical activity, food consumption, body self-perception and lifestyle habits were also obtained. Logistic regression with hierarchical approach was used to analyze the associations. The odds of NWO are greater with age (OR=1.14; 95% CI=1.04-1.26), lower in male adolescents (OR=0.21; 95% CI=0.11-0.41) and higher in those with a history of familial dyslipidemia (OR=1.81; 95% CI=1.01-3.28). Adolescents satisfied with their body (OR=0.30; 95%CI 0.16-0.56) and physically active (OR=0.44; 95% CI=0.24-0.81) have a lower odds of NWO, compared to the others. In addition, it was observed that the odds of NWO is greater among adolescents who use sweeteners (sugar substitutes) (OR=3.84; 95% CI=1.70-8.65). The factors associated with NWO were female sex, older age, positive family history of dyslipidemia, lower body satisfaction, lower level of physical activity and greater use of sweeteners.

Association of normal weight obesity with lifestyle and dietary habits in young Thai women: A cross-sectional study

“…However, it is challenging to identify university students as having NWO based solely on their BMI; thus, some students with NWO develop metabolic abnormalities without receiving adequate medical care. Identifying the risk factors for NWO may help young people make lifestyle changes to prevent its progression [ 7 ]. Therefore, in this study we used the BMI and the body fat ratio (BFR) to examine differences in anthropometrics, lifestyle, and eating habits among young Thai students.…”