Systemic Antibiotics and Obesity: Analyses from a Population-Based Cohort

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Investigated the association between antibiotic consumption and the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS).
• Focused on a Korean adult population to understand demographic-specific health correlations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between the duration of systemic antibiotic use and the incidence of obesity and MS.
• To determine if the type of antibiotic (Gram-negative vs. Gram-positive targeting) influences these health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service sample cohort from 2015.
• Comparison of obesity and MS status based on the duration of systemic antibiotic treatment over the preceding 10 years (non-users vs. tertiles of use).

Main Results:

• Longer systemic antibiotic use correlated with older age, increased MS criteria, and more comorbidities.
• Adjusted analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of obesity with prolonged antibiotic use (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.38).
• Antibiotics targeting Gram-negative organisms were associated with a greater obesity risk compared to those targeting Gram-positive organisms.

Conclusions:

• Increased frequency of systemic antibiotic use is associated with a higher risk of obesity.
• The risk of obesity is more pronounced with antibiotic use targeting Gram-negative bacteria.