Metabolic Syndrome in Asian Americans
- In spite of the lower body mass index (BMI) values and lower prevalence of overweight/obesity than whites, Asian Americans have higher rates of metabolic syndrome (MS) over the range of BMI. For A given BMI of 25-30 the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Asian Americans is double that of whites in men (43% vs 22%) and women (30% vs 12%). 1
- Asian men and women with a BMI of 20 has a prevalence of MS comparable to whites with a BMI of 25 kg/m2.1 Comparison of MS features among various Asian Americans is given in Table 110 A.1
|
Table 110 A-Comparison of MS features among various Asian Indians1 |
||||||||
| White | Asian | Asian Indian | Chinese | Japanese | Filipino | Korean | Vietnamese | |
| Number | 32,406 | 11,101 | 2,679 | 5,310 | 837 | 1,379 | 413 | 483 |
| Age | 57 | 50 | 46 | 51 | 56 | 50 | 47 | 48 |
| Women % | 58 | 58 | 46 | 60 | 68 | 65 | 68 | 64 |
| BMI | 27 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 24 |
| Overweight BMI 25-30 % | 49 | 43 | 53 | 50 | 42 | 74 | 37 | 37 |
| Obesity BMI >30% | 26 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 24 | 8 | 6 |
| Overweight + Obesity (%) | 75 | 55 | 70 | 57 | 56 | 98 | 45 | 43 |
| TG >150 % | 24 | 35 | 39 | 30 | 36 | 41 | 30 | 34 |
| Low-HDL % | 25 | 35 | 51 | 29 | 21 | 37 | 28 | 36 |
| BS >100 or diabetes % | 19 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 35 | 20 | 20 |
| BP > >135/85 % | 69 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 65 | 74 | 53 | 46 |
- The prevalence of obesity (BMI 25–30) among Asians was lower than for whites, with the exceptions of Asian Indians and Filipinos.
- The proportion of obese was about half for all Asian groups compared to whites with the exception of Filipinos using standard definition of obesity (BMI >30). Yet, diabetes, prediabetes, low HDL, and hypertriglyceridemia were all more common among Asians than whites.1 This data supports the lower BMI ranges by the Asia Pacific criteria for redefining overweight (BMI 23-25) and obesity (BMI>25) in Asian populations.1, 2See Metabolic Syndrome Criteria.
Sources
1. Palaniappan L P, Wong EC, Shin JJ, Fortmann SP, Lauderdale DS. Asian Americans have greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome despite lower body mass index. Int J Obes (Lond). Aug 3 2010.
2. WHO/IASO/ITO. Asia Pacific Perspective:Redefing obesity and its treatment World Health Organization, Western Pacific Region;2000.