Risk factors for multiple metabolic syndrome components in obese and non-obese Japanese individuals

Many studies have reported that even non-obese individuals have multiple metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and lipid abnormalities have a higher cardiovascular disease mortality rate and incidence. However, the risk factors for multiple MetS components in non-obese individuals have not been sufficiently clarified. This study compared risk factors, including overall lifestyle habits, for multiple MetS components possession between obese and non-obese individuals. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from specific health checkups of 47,172 individuals (age, 40-64 years) who belonged to the health insurance societies of five manufacturing companies in Japan in 2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted in the non-obese and obese groups with multiple MetS components as the objective variable, and attributes, body weight change, and 11 lifestyle habits (smoking, exercise, diet, drinking, and sleep) as explanatory variables. For both groups, men, older age, current smoking, weight gain of ≥10 kg since age of 20, slow walking speed, fast eating speed, and greater amounts of alcohol consumption were risk factors for having multiple MetS components. The odds ratio of each risk factor, with the exception of walking speed and eating speed, tended to be higher in non-obese individuals than in obese individuals. The only risk factor specific to obese individuals was lack of regular exercise. These results suggest that almost all risk factors for possession of multiple MetS components were common to both obese and non-obese individuals, and the risk level of each risk factor tended to be higher in non-obese individuals.