Abdominal obesity

1. Abdominal obesity was not clearly linked with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in humans (independent association after adjustment for potential confounders).

   “whereas abdominal obesity alone was not independently associated”

   Humansindependent association after adjustment for potential confoundersn = 7,418

   Dynapenic abdominal obesity and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: results from a large cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older adults in China

   Annals of joint·Mar 26, 2026

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1. Abdominal obesity is linked with worse cognitive function in humans (high-increasing vs. low-stable WC trajectory) (-0.18 [95% CI: -0.28 to -0.07]).

   “experienced a swifter cognitive decline (OR: -0.18 [95% CI: -0.28 to -0.07])”

   Humanshigh-increasing vs. low-stable WC trajectory14-year trajectory, late-life follow-upn = 4,751

   Trajectories of general and central obesity beyond middle age in relation to late-life cognitive decline and dementia

   Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)·Jan 28, 2025

1. Abdominal obesity is linked with higher fasting glucose in humans (β = 9.04 (95%CI 5.87 to 12.21)).

   “Abdominal obesity had a negative effect on fasting glucose (β = 9.04, 95%CI = 5.87 to 12.21)”

   Humansn = 1,571

   Glucose Levels as a Mediator of the Detrimental Effect of Abdominal Obesity on Relative Handgrip Strength in Older Adults

   Journal of clinical medicine·Jul 22, 2020

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1. Abdominal obesity is linked with lower relative handgrip strength in humans (β = -0.069 (95%CI -0.082 to -0.057)).

   “The direct effect of abdominal obesity on relative HGS was statistically significant (β = -0.069, 95%CI = -0.082 to -0.057), p < 0.001.”

   Humansn = 1,571

   Glucose Levels as a Mediator of the Detrimental Effect of Abdominal Obesity on Relative Handgrip Strength in Older Adults

   Journal of clinical medicine·Jul 22, 2020

1. Abdominal obesity was not clearly linked with rate of muscle strength decline in humans (women).

   “This association was not found in women.”

   Humanswomen8 years of follow-upfemales

   Does Abdominal Obesity Accelerate Muscle Strength Decline in Older Adults? Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

   The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·Aug 15, 2018

1. Abdominal obesity was not clearly linked with ADL disability in humans (baseline exposure, predicting ADL disability in 2016, accounting for mortality) (OR 1.59 (95% CI 0.93-2.71)).

   “but not for ADL disability (OR: 1.59, 95% CI 0.93-2.71, p-value =0.09)”

   Humansbaseline exposure, predicting ADL disability in 2016, accounting for mortality4 yearsn = 1,104

   Abdominal Obesity and Mobility Disability in Older Adults: A 4-Year Follow-Up the International Mobility in Aging Study

   The journal of nutrition, health & aging·Jan 1, 2018

1. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in humans (middle age) (HR 3.231, 95% CI 3.184 to 3.278).

   “abdominal obesity: HR, 3.231; 95% CI, 3.184 to 3.278”

   Humansmiddle age

   Differential Impact of Obesity on the Risk of Diabetes Development in Two Age Groups: Analysis from the National Health Screening Program

   Diabetes & metabolism journal·Aug 23, 2023

2. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in adults with normal BMI (aHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05-1.85).

   “The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs for T2DM incidence were 1.39 (1.05-1.85) and 1.89 (1.42-2.53) for those with increased WC and substantially increased WC, respectively”

   Humansin adults with normal BMI

   Prevalence of Abdominal Obesity in Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults with a Normal Body Mass Index and Its Association with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study from 2011 to 2018

   Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy·Dec 20, 2021

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1. Abdominal obesity is associated with frailty in women aged 65-74 years (RR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.03-4.35], p = 0.029).

   “The results were similar for abdominal obesity in women aged 65-74 years (RR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.03-4.35], p = 0.029).”

   Humansin women aged 65-74 yearsfemales

   The Relationship between Frailty, Obesity and Social Deprivation in Non-Institutionalized Elderly People

   The journal of nutrition, health & aging·Jan 1, 2020

2. Abdominal obesity raises the risk of frailty in humans (pooled observational studies, waist circumference categories) (RR 1.57 (95% CI 1.29-1.91)).

   “We found a positive association between abdominal obesity and frailty”

   Reviewpooled observational studies, waist circumference categoriesn = 18,764

   Abdominal obesity, body mass index and the risk of frailty in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

   Age and ageing·Mar 12, 2021

1. Abdominal obesity is associated with stroke in humans (obstructive sleep apnea) (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.31-2.91).

   “Cross-sectional analysis revealed an association between AO and stroke (odds ratio [OR]1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-2.91)”

   Humansobstructive sleep apnean = 1,290

   Associations between abdominal obesity and the risk of stroke in Chinese older patients with obstructive sleep apnea: Is there an obesity paradox?

   Frontiers in aging neuroscience·Sep 12, 2022

2. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of stroke in humans (obstructive sleep apnea) (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.12-4.04).

   “participants with AO had a higher cumulative incidence of stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 2.16, 95% CI 1.12-4.04) during a median follow-up of 42 months”

   Humansobstructive sleep apneamedian period of 42 monthsn = 1,290

   Associations between abdominal obesity and the risk of stroke in Chinese older patients with obstructive sleep apnea: Is there an obesity paradox?

   Frontiers in aging neuroscience·Sep 12, 2022

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1. Abdominal obesity predicts mobility disability in humans (accounting for mortality) (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.17-3.17)).

   “Abdominal obesity in baseline was also predictor of mobility disability in 2016 (OR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.17-3.17, p-value <0.01)”

   Humansaccounting for mortality4 yearsn = 1,104

   Abdominal Obesity and Mobility Disability in Older Adults: A 4-Year Follow-Up the International Mobility in Aging Study

   The journal of nutrition, health & aging·Jan 1, 2018

2. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of mobility disability in humans (OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.23-1.76)).

   “Participants with abdominal obesity had higher mobility disability (OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.23-1.76, p-value=0.01)”

   Humansadjusted for depressive symptoms, handgrip strength, gait speed, age, sex, education and research site4 yearsn = 1,104

   Abdominal Obesity and Mobility Disability in Older Adults: A 4-Year Follow-Up the International Mobility in Aging Study

   The journal of nutrition, health & aging·Jan 1, 2018

1. Abdominal obesity is associated with multimorbidity in humans (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.0).

   “Low BMI (AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8) and abdominal obesity (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.0), were also associated with multimorbidity.”

   Humans

   Multimorbidity among indigenous tribal communities in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study (2022-2024)

   The Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia·May 14, 2026

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1. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of cardio-renal-metabolic multimorbidity in humans (metabolically unhealthy vs metabolically healthy abdominal obese) (HR 3.26, 95% CI 2.49–4.28).

   “metabolically unhealthy abdominal obese (HR, 3.26 [95% CI, 2.49-4.28]) exhibited elevated risk”

   Humansmetabolically unhealthy vs metabolically healthy abdominal obesemedian follow-up 14.3 yearsn = 6,343

   Different Metabolic Phenotypes of Obesity and 2 Decades Risk of Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Multimorbidity: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

   Journal of the American Heart Association·Sep 1, 2025

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1. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of dementia in humans (high-increasing vs. low-stable WC trajectory) (OR 1.57 (95% CI: 1.01 to 2.49)).

   “those in the high-increasing WC group, showing an increasing trend (range, 115-122 cm), demonstrated an increased risk of developing dementia (OR, 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.49)”

   Humanshigh-increasing vs. low-stable WC trajectory14-year trajectory, late-life follow-upn = 4,751

   Trajectories of general and central obesity beyond middle age in relation to late-life cognitive decline and dementia

   Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)·Jan 28, 2025

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1. Abdominal obesity is associated with multidimensional frailty in humans.

   “waist circumference was significantly positively associated with multidimensional frailty and all three frailty domains”

   Humansn = 995

   Associations Between Obesity and Multidimensional Frailty in Older Chinese People with Hypertension

   Clinical interventions in aging·Jun 8, 2020

1. Abdominal obesity is associated with falls in humans (unadjusted comparison across four groups) (27.5% versus 14.7% in the normal group; chi-square P = 0.039 across four groups).

   “for normal, dynapenic, abdominal obesity, and D/AO were 14.7%, 17.2%, 27.5%, and 40.4% (X2 = 8.341; P = 0.039), respectively.”

   Humansunadjusted comparison across four groups18 monthsfemalesn = 201

   Dynapenic abdominal obesity and the incidence of falls in older women: a prospective study

   Aging clinical and experimental research·Sep 5, 2019

1. Abdominal obesity is linked with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in humans (OR 1.532 (95% CI 1.037–2.263)).

   “abdominal obesity remained significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR=1.532, 95% CI=1.037-2.263, P=0.032)”

   Humansmultivariable adjustment for age, education level, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and diabetesn = 1,100

   Associations between obesity and cognitive impairment in the Chinese elderly: an observational study

   Clinical interventions in aging·Feb 15, 2019

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