Metabolic abnormalities are present in 15-25% adults with BMI <25 kg/m2. Studies have shown an increased amount of visceral fat in metabolically unhealthy lean (MUL) individuals as compared to metabolically healthy lean (MHL) individuals. The same is true for metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) as compared to metabolically healthy obese (MHO) individuals. However, the lean and obese groups have not been compared for other similarities or differences. We used NHANES data for years 2011 - 2018 and downloaded variables related to demographics, laboratory, and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Being metabolically unhealthy was defined as the presence of ≥2 components of the metabolic syndrome other than obesity. After excluding those <18 years, the study sample included 6,834 subjects with BMI <25 kg/m2 and 8,564 with BMI ≥30 kg/m2. The comparisons between MUL Vs MHL and MUO Vs MHO are shown in the table. We found that MUL individuals had increased total percent fat mass and increased android percent fat as compared to MHL individuals. However, MUO individuals had similar total and android fat but lower gynoid fat as compared to MHO individuals. Thus, while MUL and MUO subjects both had increased android to gynoid ratio, there were differences in fat distribution. This suggests that the underlying mechanisms in MUL individuals may be different from the MUO individuals and need further investigation.
S. Anand: None. T. Pasupneti: None. Y. Pak: None. R.K. Garg: None.
