Overweight duration and metabolic syndrome among Filipino women

Excess body fat has adverse metabolic effects, but it is less clear whether the duration of being overweight (OW=BMI>=25 kg/m2)) is associated with metabolic risk factors, especially among Asians. We aimed to examine the association of OW duration with metabolic syndrome (MetS), independent of current BMI, using data from 1867 women (ages 35–68 yr) from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey in 2005. MetS was defined as having 3 of 5 components: waist circumference >=88 cm, triglyceride >=150 mg/dL, HDL‐C <50 mg/dL, blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg, and fasting glucose >=100 mg/dL). About 48% of women had MetS, 25% were OW >10 yrs, 11% were OW 3–10 yrs, 6% were OW <3 yrs, 10% had a history of OW but not currently OW and 48% were never OW (48%). Logistic regression analyses adjusted for current BMI, age, menopausal status and other confounders showed that the odds of MetS increased with OW duration. Odds (95% CI) of MetS were highest among women with longest OW duration: 2.1 (1.3, 3.3) for OW>10 yrs, 1.6 (1.0, 2.4) for OW 3–10 yrs, and 0.7 (0.5, 1.2) for OW<3 yrs compared to never OW women. Linear regression analyses showed that increasing OW duration was associated with the total number of MetS components. With cardiovascular diseases as the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the country, results of this study underscore the need to pursue programs that prevent chronic OW. NIH 5 R01 HL085144‐03 and 1R01TW008288‐01.