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 weight(25), overweight(25) and obesity(25)) were defined as BMI25 18.5 to <25 kg/m(2), 25 to <30 kg/m(2) and 30 kg/m(2) 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 weight(25), overweight(25), and obesity(25) group. After control for confounding factors, the prevalences of MetS in overweight(25) group and obesity(25) 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 weight(25) group. After further adjusted for BMI at the time of survey, the prevalences of MetS in adults with overweight(25) group and obesity(25) 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 weight(25) group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that youth obesity was closely associated with an increased risk of MetS among middle-aged and elderly adults.