Effects of Obesity Type on Diabetes and Hypertension in Obese Korean Adults

Abstract

Obesity is a major cause of diabetes and hypertension. Previous studies have analyzed the effects of obesity on diabetes and hypertension by comparing non-obese and obese groups. Here, we investigated the effects of obesity type through comparison between obesity types in obese adults.The sample comprised 8,914 adults, classified as obese according to body mass index criteria or waist circumference criteria, selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2020). Obesity was classified as abdominal obesity-only, general obesity-only, and abdominal and general obesity. The effects of obesity type on diabetes and hypertension were analyzed using logistic regression model.12.78% of participants exhibited abdominal obesity-only, 22.35% had general obesity-only, and 64.78% had both types. The proportion of patients aged ≥60 years was 57.52% in the abdominal obesity-only group, while 17.12% in the general obesity-only group. The general obesity-only group had a lower incidence of diabetes than the abdominal obesity-only group (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.77), and the abdominal and general obesity group had a higher incidence of hypertension than the abdominal obesity-only group (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.54-2.15).Abdominal obesity has a stronger association with diabetes than general obesity, and the risk of hypertension is greatest when both obesity types coexist. Individuals with abdominal obesity-only are likely to be excluded from obesity management, especially when aged ≥60 years. The risk of hypertension is much greater when abdominal and general obesity coexist, emphasizing the need to use both body mass index and waist circumference to define obesity.