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High Prevalence of Anthropometric-Only Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk: Evidence from a Population-Based Study
Vilma Kriaučionienė1,2, Asta Raskilienė1,3, Lina Šnipaitienė1,2
1Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės Str. 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Nutrients
|January 28, 2026
Summary
A new obesity definition combining body mass index (BMI) and anthropometrics reveals
Area of Science:
- Public Health and Epidemiology
- Cardiology and Metabolic Diseases
- Anthropometry and Obesity Research
Background:
- The Lancet Commission proposed a novel obesity definition integrating body mass index (BMI) with anthropometric measurements to improve adipose tissue excess detection.
- Existing definitions relying solely on BMI may not fully capture obesity-related cardiometabolic risks.
- Understanding obesity prevalence and associated risks across different phenotypes is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of obesity using the new Lancet Commission definition in Lithuania's urban population.
- To investigate cardiometabolic risk factors and lifestyle habits associated with distinct obesity phenotypes.
- To evaluate the utility of the new definition in identifying individuals at high risk.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 3426 adults (aged 25-69) in Kaunas, Lithuania (2020-2024).
- Participants were classified into three phenotypes: no obesity, anthropometric-only obesity, and BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity.
- Data collection included anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical measurements, alongside dietary and physical activity assessments.
Main Results:
- Anthropometric-only obesity was prevalent (36.1% males, 22.7% females), indicating a significant portion of the population with excess adiposity despite normal BMI.
- Individuals with anthropometric-only obesity showed substantially higher odds of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.
- Higher adiposity correlated with increased intake of unhealthy foods and decreased physical activity, with the highest cardiometabolic risk observed in the BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity group.
Conclusions:
- Anthropometric-only obesity is a common and metabolically detrimental phenotype often missed by BMI alone.
- The proposed new obesity definition effectively identifies individuals at elevated cardiometabolic risk.
- This enhanced definition supports the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies for diverse obesity phenotypes.
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