UCSF

Background

South Asians have increased risk for type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between metabolic health and weight has not been described. This study establishes the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in normal weight, overweight, and obese South Asians.

Methods

Participants were categorized by body mass index and waist circumference. Subjects with two or more cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein) were defined as metabolically abnormal.

Results

Forty-one percent of the sample (n=1015) was metabolically abnormal, and 12% of those were normal weight. Of metabolically healthy individuals, 58% were overweight or obese. At a normal level of adiposity, women were more likely to be metabolically unhealthy, whereas men were more likely to be unhealthy with increasing adiposity.

Conclusions

Similar to other ethnic groups, a significant number of normal weight South Asians can be metabolically unhealthy.