Association of cardiovascular risk factors in different anthropometric parameters in overweight or obese adults

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Anthropometric indices (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) were inversely associated with HDL (p < 0.001) after age and sex adjustment, while WHtR associated with SBP (B = 10.18, p = 0.04).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Overweight or obesity (n=909). Intervention: Anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR). Primary outcome: Association between anthropometric indices (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) and cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, glycemic factors, blood pressure, and inflammatory indices) in adjusted models (B -3.77 to -3.72 for HDL across indices; B -0.66 for LDL/HDL with BMI; B 10.18 for SBP with WHtR, p=<0.001 for HDL; 0.05 for LDL/HDL with BMI; 0.04 for SBP with WHtR).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

In overweight and obese adults, anthropometric measures including BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR are inversely associated with HDL cholesterol levels, while waist-to-height ratio is positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and diverse anthropometric parameters in adults with overweight or obesity.

Motahareh Hasani; Leila Sheikhi; Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi; Maryam Khazdouz; Saleheh Ahmadzadeh; Zahra Rahimi; Saeed Alinejad; Sahar mohammadipoornami; Mastaneh Rajabian Tabesh; Maryam Abolhasani

doi:10.1016/j.ahjo.2026.100823

July 1, 2026American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research and PracticeOpen Access

Association of cardiovascular risk factors in different anthropometric parameters in overweight or obese adults

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Key result

Anthropometric obesity indices linked to significantly lower HDL, with waist-to-height ratio tied to higher SBP.

B -3.77 to -3.72 for HDL across indices; B -0.66 for LDL/HDL with BMI; B 10.18 for SBP with WHtR
P<0.001 for HDL; 0.05 for LDL/HDL with BMI; 0.04 for SBP with WHtR
n=909

Why the study?

Overweight and obesity contribute to cardiovascular risk factors, motivating an investigation into the association between cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric parameters in adults with overweight or obesity.

Are anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) associated with cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, glycemic indices, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers) in adults with overweight or obesity?

Key Points

To examine the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and diverse anthropometric parameters in adults with overweight or obesity.
Cross-sectional evaluation of 909 overweight or obese adults from the Obesity Clinic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center at Sinai Hospital.
Anthropometric parameters—body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)—were measured per World Health Organization protocols alongside lipid, glycemic, and inflammatory indices.
Linear and logistic regression models were evaluated unadjusted (Model 1) and adjusted for age and sex (Model 2).
In the adjusted model, the LDL/HDL ratio showed an association with BMI (B = -0.66, SE = 0.34, p = 0.05), and HDL was significantly linked to all anthropometric measures (BMI B = -3.77, SE = 0.98, p < 001; WC B = -3.75, SE = 0.98, p < 001; WHR B = -3.72, SE = 0.99, p < 001; WHtR B = -3.8, SE = 0.98, p < 001).
Systolic blood pressure demonstrated a significant association with WHtR (p = 0.04), whereas diastolic blood pressure showed no significant association with any anthropometric index.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=909)

Blinding

Individuals responsible for registering information and analyzing the specific details of the participants were completely blinded to the study

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Are anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) associated with cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, glycemic indices, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers) in adults with overweight or obesity?

P

Population

909 adults with overweight or obesity (mean age 38.55 years, 76.4% female) free of chronic cardiovascular or systemic diseases at a single center in Tehran, Iran, evaluated cross-sectionally between 2017 and 2021.

E

Exposure

Anthropometric indices measured according to WHO protocols: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)

O

Outcome

Cardiovascular risk factors including lipid profile (TG, HDL, LDL, LDL/HDL ratio), glycemic indices (FBS, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, QUICKI), blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR)surrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: B -3.77 to -3.72 for HDL across indices; B -0.66 for LDL/HDL with BMI; B 10.18 for SBP with WHtR

p-value: p=<0.001 for HDL; 0.05 for LDL/HDL with BMI; 0.04 for SBP with WHtR

In overweight and obese Iranian adults, different anthropometric indices show variable associations with cardiometabolic risk factors after adjusting for age and sex, with WHtR correlating with systolic blood pressure and all indices inversely associating with HDL.

Limitations

Single-center study conducted in Tehran, Iran, limiting generalizability
Imbalanced gender distribution (76.4% female)
Wide age range including many young subjects
Potential selection bias from recruiting at a specialized obesity clinic and recall bias from self-reported medical history
Multiple statistical comparisons performed without formal correction, increasing likelihood of type I error
Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference
Selection bias from recruiting at a specialized obesity clinic and recall bias from self-reported medical history
Cross-sectional design prevents inference of causality

Implication

These associations should not yet guide risk assessment in overweight adults; leaves open longitudinal validation of anthropometric links to HDL and SBP.

Abstract

Background Since overweight and obesity stands as a factor to the development of cardiovascular risk factors and the importance of targeted interventions to address their intertwined impact on public health, this investigation aimed to discover the association between cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric parameters in adults with overweight or obesity. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 909 overweight or obese participants from Obesity Clinic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center at Sinai Hospital. The participants were examined for lipid profile, glycemic index, and inflammatory indices. Anthropometric parameters were measured according to the World Health Organization (WHO) protocols. Linear and logistic regression methods were used to examine the relationship between various variables. Result In the adjusted model, a significant negative association was observed between the LDL/HDL ratio and BMI ( p = 0.05), whereas HDL showed a positive association with all anthropometric measures. No significant association was found between WC and the variables in the adjusted model. In the unadjusted model, QUICKI demonstrated significant associations with all anthropometric indices, similar to FBS and ESR. Despite, SBP demonstrated a significant association with WHtR ( p = 0.04). Furthermore, LDL, insulin and HbA1c showed no significant associations with any of the anthropometric measures in either model ( p > 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, anthropometric indices may provide useful, though variable, insights into cardiovascular risk factors among overweight and obese individuals. Further research with larger samples and longitudinal design is needed to clarify these associations.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Hasani et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Overweight or obesity (n=909). Anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) was evaluated on Association between anthropometric indices (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) and cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, glycemic factors, blood pressure, and inflammatory indices) in adjusted models (B -3.77 to -3.72 for HDL across indices; B -0.66 for LDL/HDL with BMI; B 10.18 for SBP with WHtR, p=<0.001 for HDL; 0.05 for LDL/HDL with BMI; 0.04 for SBP with WHtR). Anthropometric indices (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) were inversely associated with HDL (p < 0.001) after age and sex adjustment, while WHtR associated with SBP (B = 10.18, p = 0.04).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a48a30989561a0c2d78d353 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahjo.2026.100823

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Association of cardiovascular risk factors in different anthropometric parameters in overweight or obese adults

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Association of cardiovascular risk factors in different anthropometric parameters in overweight or obese adults

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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