Lifestyle factors associated with metabolically healthy obesity in adults at primary care level

Elizabeth López-Martínez, Unidad de Medicina Familiar Número 64, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico Gabriela G. Elizondo-Omaña, Unidad de Medicina Familiar Número 64, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico Neri A. Álvarez-Villalobos, Centro de Desarrollo en Investigación 360, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Eloise E. Ferlay-Chamoux, Centro de Desarrollo en Investigación 360, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Alejandro Burciaga-Muñoz, Centro de Desarrollo en Investigación 360, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Gloria Navarrete-Floriano, Unidad de Medicina Familiar Número 64, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico Juan C. Romo-Salazar, Unidad de Medicina Familiar Número 64, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, Mexico

Background: Individuals with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) may have a lower short-term cardiovascular risk; however, up to half may develop increased cardiovascular risk over the medium term. Objective: To determine the proportion of patients with MHO and the lifestyle factors associated with this condition among adults in primary care. Material and methods: An observational, cross-sectional, analytical, and prospective study was conducted in adults aged 18-50 years with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2. The FANTASTIC questionnaire was administered, and sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data were collected. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with MHO. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 207 participants were included (mean age 39.4 ± 7.8 years; 71% women), 16.4% (n = 34) met criteria for MHO. Age was associated with MHO (35.8 ± 7.7 years vs. 40.1 ± 7.7 years, p = 0.003). A healthier lifestyle was also more frequent in the MHO group, classified as “excellent” or “very good” (61.8% vs. 41.9%, p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis did not identify additional significant predictors. Conclusions: MHO was infrequent and occurred mainly in younger individuals, suggesting a potentially transient phenotype.

Palabras clave: Obesity. Primary health care. Lifestyle. Risk factors. Anthropometry.