Key result
Over 13 years, increased abdominal fat among Nunavik Inuit was linked to adverse changes in HDL-C, Total C/HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein B, and HOMA-IR (p<0.05).
Why the study?
Obesity is a major determinant of cardiometabolic health, but the clinical impact of weight changes on cardiometabolic health in the Canadian Inuit population remains unclear.
Cohort (n=302)
p-value: p=<0.05
In the Canadian Inuit population, increased abdominal fat over 13 years is associated with worsening of specific lipid and insulin resistance parameters, but not with changes in blood pressure or fasting glucose.
Abdominal fat monitoring may aid Inuit risk stratification; extends longitudinal data but leaves open intervention effects.
Background Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) is a major determinant of cardiometabolic health, yet the clinical impact of weight changes on cardiometabolic health in the Canadian Inuit population remains unclear. Method Data were collected from 302 individuals (107 men and 195 women) who participated in the Qanuippitaa? 2004 and 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health surveys. Anthropometric indices [weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), percentage of body fat (% BF) and free fat mass], metabolic biomarkers, and hemodynamics were measured. Anthropometric characteristics and cardiometabolic risk factors were compared between 2017 and 2004 using Student's paired t -tests or Chi-square test, adjusted for medication. The impact of adiposity changes on cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profile and glucose homeostasis parameters) was assessed using adjusted multivariate regression linear analysis. Results Inuit men and women (mean baseline age: 37.1 and 36.4 years) showed a significant increase in age-standardized %BF, despite similar BMI in 2004 and 2017. Inuit women had significant rises in age-standardized WC and WHtR (p<0.05), while men's remained stable. Increased abdominal fat was linked to adverse changes in some lipid (HDL-C, Total C/HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein B) and glucose homeostasis (HOMA-IR) parameters (p<0.05), but not LDL-C, triglycerides, non-HDL-C, fasting glucose, or blood pressure. Conclusion Adiposity phenotypes and cardiometabolic risk factors are evolving among Nunavik Inuit, but increased abdominal fat is not linked to certain lipid parameters, fasting glucose, or blood pressure. Further research is needed to understand ethnic-specific traits and improve weight-related complication management.
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Lajeunesse‐Trempe et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Adiposity and cardiometabolic health (n=302). Increased abdominal fat vs. Stable or decreased abdominal fat was evaluated on Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profile and glucose homeostasis parameters) (p=<0.05). Over 13 years, increased abdominal fat among Nunavik Inuit was linked to adverse changes in HDL-C, Total C/HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein B, and HOMA-IR (p<0.05).
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