Association between weight-adjusted waist index and risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 in United States adults and the predictive value of obesity indicators

• Published in: BMC public health Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Li, XinMeng, Zhao, Dan, Wang, Hongkun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 29.07.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adults; Age; Alcohol use; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Curve fitting; Data collection; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes mellitus type 2; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Education; Evaluation; Exercise; Glucose; Health aspects; Health risks; Hispanic Americans; Hypertension; Hypoglycemic agents; Indicators; Interviews; Measurement techniques; NHANES; Normal distribution; Obesity; Physical fitness; Poverty; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk factors; Secondary schools; Statistical analysis; Subgroups; Type 2 diabetes; Variables; Weight; Weight loss; Weight-adjusted-waist index; China; United States > US
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19576-6

Background The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is a quantitative anthropometric index that can be applied to evaluate obesity. This study examined the relationship between adult United States (US) residents' risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and WWI. Methods The NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 2001-2018 provided the data for this investigation. This study used multifactorial logistic regression analysis, smoothed curve fitting, subgroup analysis, and interaction tests to assess the association between WWI and T2DM. Additionally, threshold effects were calculated using a two-stage linear regression model. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves evaluated the diagnostic ability of the WWI and commonly used obesity indicators. Results 20,477 participants were enrolled in the analysis, and patients with greater levels of WWI had a higher prevalence of T2DM. WWI and T2DM have a non-linear relationship, with a positive association found on the left side of the breakpoint (WWI = 12.35) (OR = 1.82, 95%CI:1.64-2.02), whereas, on the right side, no such relationship was found (OR = 0.9, 95%CI:0.61-1.34). For every unit rise in WWI, the probability of having T2DM increased by 67% after controlling for all other variables (OR:1.67,95%CI:1.53-1.83). Based on subgroup analyses, individuals under 40 had a higher correlation between WWI and T2DM (P < 0.001).ROC analyses showed that WWI had the best discrimination and accuracy in predicting T2DM compared to other obesity indicators (WC, BMI, and Weight). Conclusion Higher WWI values had a higher prevalence of T2DM in US individuals, especially in adults under 40. WWI has the strongest ability to predict T2DM. Therefore, the importance of WWI in the early identification of T2DM in US adults should be emphasized. Keywords: Weight-adjusted-waist index, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Obesity, NHANES