Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that both obesity and metabolic heterogeneity impact cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of different body mass index (BMI)-metabolic phenotypes on the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains unclear.MethodsThis study utilized...

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Main Authors: Nian Cai, Lin Zhang, Shuai Ding, Xiaofang Tian, Li Mo, Bohai Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1617929/full
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author Nian Cai
Lin Zhang
Shuai Ding
Xiaofang Tian
Li Mo
Bohai Yu
author_facet Nian Cai
Lin Zhang
Shuai Ding
Xiaofang Tian
Li Mo
Bohai Yu
author_sort Nian Cai
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that both obesity and metabolic heterogeneity impact cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of different body mass index (BMI)-metabolic phenotypes on the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains unclear.MethodsThis study utilized baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, enrolling 5,850 participants for a longitudinal cohort analysis. Laboratory data from 2015 were used to assess 4,471 participants and evaluate the association between BMI-metabolic phenotype transitions (2011–2015) and the incidence of CMM. Participants were categorized into four BMI-metabolic phenotype groups: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO). Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were applied to analyze the relationship between BMI-metabolic phenotypes, their dynamic changes, and CMM incidence.ResultsAmong the 5,850 participants, 562 (11.15%) developed CMM during the follow-up period. Both overweight/obesity and metabolically unhealthy status significantly accelerated CMM progression. The MUOO group exhibited the highest risk (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 2.60–4.24; p < 0.001), followed by the MUNW (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.47–2.47; p < 0.001) and MHOO groups (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.30–2.69; p = 0.001), compared to the MHNW group. Further analysis revealed that changes in metabolic status had a greater impact on CMM risk than changes in BMI alone, with metabolic transitions in individuals with obesity being particularly associated with the onset of CMM.ConclusionWorsening metabolic health and obesity significantly increase the risk of CMM. Notably, metabolic health plays a more critical role than obesity in predicting CMM incidence. This study highlights the importance of maintaining and improving metabolic health and suggests personalized obesity management strategies based on metabolic status to reduce CMM risk.
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spelling doaj-art-a0b8ef95b9ee41c7a6109533e3941bce2025-08-21T04:10:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-08-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16179291617929Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort studyNian CaiLin ZhangShuai DingXiaofang TianLi MoBohai YuBackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that both obesity and metabolic heterogeneity impact cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of different body mass index (BMI)-metabolic phenotypes on the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains unclear.MethodsThis study utilized baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, enrolling 5,850 participants for a longitudinal cohort analysis. Laboratory data from 2015 were used to assess 4,471 participants and evaluate the association between BMI-metabolic phenotype transitions (2011–2015) and the incidence of CMM. Participants were categorized into four BMI-metabolic phenotype groups: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO). Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were applied to analyze the relationship between BMI-metabolic phenotypes, their dynamic changes, and CMM incidence.ResultsAmong the 5,850 participants, 562 (11.15%) developed CMM during the follow-up period. Both overweight/obesity and metabolically unhealthy status significantly accelerated CMM progression. The MUOO group exhibited the highest risk (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 2.60–4.24; p < 0.001), followed by the MUNW (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.47–2.47; p < 0.001) and MHOO groups (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.30–2.69; p = 0.001), compared to the MHNW group. Further analysis revealed that changes in metabolic status had a greater impact on CMM risk than changes in BMI alone, with metabolic transitions in individuals with obesity being particularly associated with the onset of CMM.ConclusionWorsening metabolic health and obesity significantly increase the risk of CMM. Notably, metabolic health plays a more critical role than obesity in predicting CMM incidence. This study highlights the importance of maintaining and improving metabolic health and suggests personalized obesity management strategies based on metabolic status to reduce CMM risk.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1617929/fullobesitymetabolic statustransitionsheterogeneitycardiometabolic multimorbidity
spellingShingle Nian Cai
Lin Zhang
Shuai Ding
Xiaofang Tian
Li Mo
Bohai Yu
Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
Frontiers in Nutrition
obesity
metabolic status
transitions
heterogeneity
cardiometabolic multimorbidity
title Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
title_full Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
title_fullStr Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
title_short Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity—a nationwide prospective cohort study
title_sort associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with the progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity a nationwide prospective cohort study
topic obesity
metabolic status
transitions
heterogeneity
cardiometabolic multimorbidity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1617929/full
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