The relationship between youth obesity and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly adults in the United States

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between youth obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among middle-aged and elderly adults in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on United States adults aged ≥50 years. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 cycles. The levels of height and weight at aged 25 years were obtained. Body mass index (BMI) at aged 25 years (BMI₂₅) was calculated. Healthy weight, overweight and obesity at aged 25 years (healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅ and obesity₂₅) were defined as BMI₂₅ 18.5 to <25 kg/m², 25 to <30 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² or greater. MetS was defined According to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III report (ATP III). RESULTS: The prevalences of MetS were 48.7 %, 63.5 %, and 71.4 % in adults with healthy weight₂₅, overweight₂₅, and obesity₂₅ group. After control for confounding factors, the prevalences of MetS in overweight₂₅ group and obesity₂₅ group were 2.147 (95%CI: 1.892-2.436, P < 0.001) times and 2.878 (95%CI: 2.304-3.597, P < 0.001) times than that in healthy weight₂₅ group. After further adjusted for BMI at the time of survey, the prevalences of MetS in adults with overweight₂₅ group and obesity₂₅ group were 1.193 (95%CI:1.035-1.375，P = 0.015) times and 1.222 (95%CI:0.959-1.557，P = 0.105) times than adults with healthy weight₂₅ group. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that youth obesity was closely associated with an increased risk of MetS among middle-aged and elderly adults.