Obesity and symptoms and quality of life indicators of individuals with disabilities

BackgroundHealth risks of obesity are well known, but effects of obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have not been well-studied in people with physical disabilities.Objective/hypothesisWe examined the association between obesity and HRQOL in people with disabilities relative to the general US population. We hypothesized (a) overall, individuals with disabilities will report worse HRQOL than the general US population and (b) obese individuals with disabilities will report worse HRQOL than non-obese individuals.MethodsIndividuals with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, and spinal cord injury (N = 1849) completed Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures of fatigue, pain interference, physical and social function, depression, sleep disturbance, and sleep-related impairment. Participants were classified as obese or non-obese based on self-reported weight and height (BMI) and/or waist circumference (WC). PROMIS T-scores were compared to norms and between obesity groups.ResultsMean BMI was 26.4 kg/m² with 23.4% classified as obese. Mean WC was 37.5 inches (males) and 34.0 inches (females); 26.4% reported abdominal obesity. Based on BMI and/or WC, 33.3% (n = 616) were classified obese. Compared to PROMIS norms, obese individuals reported worse HRQOL on all domains (p < 0.0001). Compared to non-obese individuals, obese individuals reported worse functioning on all domains except depression (p < 0.01). Obese individuals with MS and MD reported worse outcomes than non-obese counterparts.ConclusionsObesity in people with physical disabilities is associated with poorer HRQOL. More research is needed to inform clinicians in identifying obese patients and helping them achieve healthy weight, reduce symptom burden, and improve QOL.     

Dietary weight loss in insulin-resistant non-obese humans: Metabolic benefits and relationship to adipose cell size

Background and Aims

Overweight and obesity increase risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, largely through development of insulin resistance. Benefits of dietary weight loss are documented for obese individuals with insulin resistance. Similar benefits have not been shown in overweight individuals. We sought to quantify whether dietary weight loss improves metabolic risk profile in overweight insulin-resistant individuals, and evaluated potential mediators between weight loss and metabolic response.

Gender-specific associations of body mass index and waist circumference with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese rural adults: The Henan Rural Cohort Study

Aim

To assess the relationship between various obesity categories according to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Chinese rural adults.

佛山市南海区社区人群体型指数、腰围与高血压的关系

目的采用腰围(WC)、体质指数(BMI)综合评价广东省佛山市南海区成年人中心性肥胖者高血压患病风险。方法采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法抽取南海区2个街道6个镇共17124户中18岁以上常住居民进行调查。采用入户面对面访谈的方法,并进行相关人体测量。采用SPSS13.0统计软件进行多因素Logistic回归分析,比较各BMI组别中心性肥胖者高血压患病的OR值。结果体质指数偏瘦、正常、超重和肥胖组中,男性中心性肥胖者高血压患病率分别为14.6%、23.8%、34.1%和42.7%;女性中心性肥胖者高血压患病率分别为20.3%,24.2%,33.8%和43.5%;除男性体型偏瘦组外,中心性肥胖者高血压患病率均明显高于同组内的正常腰围人群(P0.01);调整混杂因素(年龄、吸烟、饮酒和体育锻炼等)后,与正常腰围人群比较,BMI正常、超重及肥胖组别中男性中心性肥胖者患高血压患病的OR值分别为1.485(1.319~1.672)、1.827(1.536~2.191)、2.849(1.659~4.893);中心性肥胖女性BMI偏瘦、正常、超重及肥胖组高血压患病OR值分别为1.642(1.112~2.425)、1.530(1.363~1.717)、1.644(1.299~2.080)、3.529(2.001~6.225)。结论 BMI与WC两者结合可明显提高高血压风险预测价值;应将腹型肥胖尤其是全身性肥胖合并腹型肥胖的人群作为社区高血压防治的重点干预人群。     

The obesity paradox in men with coronary heart disease and heart failure: The role of muscle mass and leptin

Aims

We have investigated the role of muscle mass, natriuretic peptides and adipokines in explaining the obesity paradox.

Background

The obesity paradox relates to the association between obesity and increased survival in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or heart failure (HF).

Methods

Prospective study of 4046 men aged 60–79 years followed up for a mean period of 11 years, during which 1340 deaths occurred. The men were divided according to the presence of doctor diagnosed CHD and HF: (i) no CHD or HF ii), with CHD (no HF) and (iii) with HF.

Results

Overweight (BMI 25–9.9 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) were associated with lower mortality risk compared to men with normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m²) in those with CHD [hazards ratio (HR) 0.71 (0.56,0.91) and 0.77 (0.57,1.04); p = 0.04 for trend] and in those with HF [HR 0.57 (0.28,1.16) and 0.41 (0.16,1.09; p = 0.04 for trend). Adjustment for muscle mass and NT-proBNP attenuated the inverse association in those with CHD (no HF) [HR 0.78 (0.61,1.01) and 0.96 (0.68,1.36) p = 0.60 for trend) but made minor differences to those with HF [p = 0.05]. Leptin related positively to mortality in men without HF but inversely to mortality in those with HF; adjustment for leptin abolished the BMI mortality association in men with HF [HR 0.82 (0.31,2.20) and 0.99 (0.27,3.71); p = 0.98 for trend].

Conclusion

The lower mortality risk associated with excess weight in men with CHD without HF may be due to higher muscle mass. In men with HF, leptin (possibly reflecting cachexia) explain the inverse association.     

Relationship of low muscle mass and obesity with physical function in community dwelling older adults: Results from the Nagahama study

AimRelationships of low muscle mass and obesity with physical function were investigated in older adults.MethodsThe participants were 1922 community dwelling persons aged 60 years or older (67.7 ± 5.2 years old, 643 men and 1279 women). One-leg standing time, knee extensor muscle strength, and maximum walking speed were assessed. Muscle mass was evaluated using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method, and skeletal mass index (SMI) was determined. For the obesity index, waist circumference with a stronger association with visceral fat was used. Participants were classified into the following four groups based on standard values of waist circumference and SMI: non-obese low-SMI, obese low-SMI, non-obese normal-SMI, and obese normal-SMI.ResultsBy two-way analysis of variance (obesity × SMI), the main effects of waist circumference and muscle mass were noted in the one-leg standing time. The maximum walking speed was higher in the non-obese than the obese group, and in the normal than the low SMI group. In the muscle strength, a main effect was noted only in the muscle mass of women. An interaction was noted in men and significant differences were detected between all combinations except between the non-obese low SMI and obese low SMI groups.ConclusionLow muscle mass and obesity negatively influence balance and walking abilities. However, the influence of low muscle mass and obesity on muscle strength were different between the sexes. In men, the relationship between obesity and muscle strength would be different depending on whether muscle mass is retained.     

Evaluation of waist-to-height ratio to predict 5 year cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African adults

Background and aimsSimple, low-cost central obesity measures may help identify individuals with increased cardiometabolic disease risk, although it is unclear which measures perform best in African adults. We aimed to: 1) cross-sectionally compare the accuracy of existing waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) thresholds to identify individuals with hypertension, pre-diabetes, or dyslipidaemia; 2) identify optimal WC and WHtR thresholds to detect CVD risk in this African population; and 3) assess which measure best predicts 5-year CVD risk.Methods and resultsBlack South Africans (577 men, 942 women, aged >30years) were recruited by random household selection from four North West Province communities. Demographic and anthropometric measures were taken. Recommended diagnostic thresholds (WC > 80 cm for women, >94 cm for men; WHtR > 0.5) were evaluated to predict blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipids, and glycated haemoglobin measured at baseline and 5 year follow up. Women were significantly more overweight than men at baseline (mean body mass index (BMI) women 27.3 ± 7.4 kg/m², men 20.9 ± 4.3 kg/m²); median WC women 81.9 cm (interquartile range 61–103), men 74.7 cm (63–87 cm), all P < 0.001). In women, both WC and WHtR significantly predicted all cardiometabolic risk factors after 5 years. In men, even after adjusting WC threshold based on ROC analysis, WHtR better predicted overall 5-year risk. Neither measure predicted hypertension in men.ConclusionsThe WHtR threshold of >0.5 appears to be more consistently supported and may provide a better predictor of future cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan Africa.     

An examination of sex and racial/ethnic differences in the metabolic syndrome among adults: A confirmatory factor analysis and a resulting continuous severity score

Objective

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is typically diagnosed based on abnormalities in specific clustered clinical measures that are associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, current MetS criteria result in racial/ethnic discrepancies. Our goals were to use confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to delineate differential contributions to MetS by sub-group, and if contributions were discovered, develop sex and racial/ethnic-specific equations to calculate MetS severity.

Research Design and Methods

Using data on adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2010, we performed a CFA of a single MetS factor that allowed differential loadings across groups, resulting in a sex and race/ethnicity-specific continuous MetS severity score.

Results

Loadings to the single MetS factor differed by sub-group for each MetS component (p < 0.001), with lower factor loadings among non-Hispanic-blacks for triglycerides and among Hispanics for waist circumference. Systolic blood pressure exhibited low factor loadings among all groups. MetS severity scores were correlated with biomarkers of future disease (high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein, uric acid, insulin resistance). Non-Hispanic-black-males with diabetics had a low prevalence of MetS but high MetS severity scores that were not significantly different from other racial/ethnic groups.

Conclusions

This analysis among adults uniquely demonstrated differences between sexes and racial/ethnic groups regarding contributions of traditional MetS components to an assumed single factor. The resulting equations provide a clinically-accessible and interpretable continuous measure of MetS for potential use in identifying adults at higher risk for MetS-related diseases and following changes within individuals over time. These equations hold potential to be a powerful new outcome for use in MetS-focused research and interventions.