International Differences in the Links between Obesity and Physiological Dysregulation: The United States, England, and Taiwan
Table 3
Odds ratios from logistic regression models predicting at-risk levels of biomarkers by BMI and waist circumference groups (normal BMI and high waist, obese, and very obese) among American, English, and Taiwanese aged 54+.
(a) Men
Normal BMI + high waist
US
England
Taiwan
US
England
Taiwan
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
Cardiovascular risk factors
SBP measured
1183
3069
587
1.54 (1.03–2.31)
1.24 (1.01–1.53)
3.36 (0.81–13.91)
DBP measured
1183
3069
587
0.97 (0.37–2.53)
1.42 (1.00–2.04)
0.95 (0.21–4.44)
Metabolic risk factors
Total-C
1181
2481
586
0.81 (0.46–1.43)
1.09 (0.81–1.46)
0.76 (0.09–6.31)
HDL-C
1181
2479
586
1.98 (1.22–3.20)
1.86 (1.35–2.55)
1.97 (0.58–6.77)
LDL-C
567
2410
584
1.13 (0.52–2.45)
1.26 (0.91–1.73)
1.25 (0.26–6.06)
Triglycerides
587
1543
586
2.35 (1.21–4.57)
2.52 (1.68–3.76)
5.71 (1.54–21.13)
Fasting glucose
585
1537
586
3.08 (1.52–6.26)
2.22 (0.92–5.35)
2.23 (0.54–9.17)
Glycated hemoglobin
1183
2455
586
2.71 (1.56–4.71)
1.62 (1.13–2.32)
2.00 (0.43–9.26)
Inflammation markers
C-Reactive protein
1181
2481
2.35 (1.58–3.49)
1.77 (1.39–2.25)
Interleukin-6
586
*
Obese
Very obese
US
England
Taiwan
US
England
Taiwan
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
Cardiovascular risk factors
SBP measured
1.00 (0.64–1.56)
1.53 (1.24–1.89)
1.68 (0.75–3.78)
0.97 (0.54–1.75)
1.71 (1.25–2.34)
DBP measured
1.19 (0.50–2.87)
1.57 (1.11–2.22)
1.30 (0.53–3.18)
0.46 (0.15–1.41)
1.50 (0.94–2.39)
Metabolic risk factors
Total-C
1.06 (0.58–1.93)
1.05 (0.79–1.41)
0.78 (0.21–2.90)
1.76 (0.86–3.61)
0.81 (0.50–1.31)
HDL-C
1.60 (0.97–2.64)
2.4 (1.75–3.30)
2.19 (0.94–5.07)
1.71 (0.89–3.27)
3.18 (2.08–4.87)
LDL-C
0.34 (0.12–0.96)
1.09 (0.77–1.54)
1.13 (0.34–3.73)
1.35 (0.40–4.60)
0.83 (0.49–1.43)
Triglycerides
1.75 (0.85–3.60)
3.68 (2.50–5.41)
5.31 (1.91–14.73)
1.64 (0.65–4.16)
4.03 (2.33–6.95)
Fasting glucose
2.23 (1.00–5.02)
2.00 (0.73–5.47)
2.53 (0.89–7.24)
3.57 (1.40–9.10)
2.73 (0.76–9.87)
Glycated hemoglobin
2.37 (1.31–4.30)
2.38 (1.67–3.39)
4.48 (1.71–11.72)
4.25 (2.19–8.27)
5.07 (3.23–7.95)
Inflammation markers
C-Reactive protein
2.21 (1.44–3.39)
2.21 (1.72–2.85)
3.40 (1.96–5.89)
4.30 (2.94–6.29)
Interleukin-6
1.04 (0.13–8.57)
Could not be estimated. SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, Total-C: total cholesterol, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval. All models adjusted for age, use of antihypertensives, smoking status, and physical activity. High-waist circumference men ≥ 102 cm, women ≥ 88 cm. Referent group: normal body mass index (18.5–29.9 kg/m2) + normal waist. The results are not computed for Very Obese in Taiwan because too few individuals are classified as very obese.
(b) Women
Normal BMI + high waist
US
England
Taiwan
US
England
Taiwan
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
Cardiovascular risk factors
SBP measured
707
3721
431
0.90 (0.56–1.47)
1.46 (1.20–1.78)
2.00 (1.14–3.49)
DBP measured
707
3721
431
0.72 (0.26–2.04)
1.72 (1.17–2.53)
2.49 (1.34–4.63)
Metabolic risk factors
Total-C
721
3029
431
1.60 (0.92–2.80)
0.96 (0.78–1.17)
1.15 (0.61–2.19)
HDL-C
721
3026
431
1.19 (0.42–3.37)
1.81 (0.96–3.40)
1.98 (1.09–3.60)
LDL-C
349
2986
431
2.25 (0.78–6.44)
1.07 (0.85–1.34)
0.99 (0.51–1.91)
Triglycerides
361
1879
431
1.16 (0.49–2.74)
3.15 (2.02–4.93)
1.79 (0.85–3.77)
Fasting glucose
366
1861
431
4.96 (1.64–14.98)
9.82 (1.23–78.48)
1.83 (0.94–3.57)
Glycated hemoglobin
731
2993
430
2.02 (0.85–4.81)
2.07 (1.34–3.22)
2.03 (1.11–3.71)
Inflammation markers
C-Reactive protein
723
3029
2.02 (1.23–3.32)
2.03 (1.62–2.55)
Interleukin-6
431
1.12 (0.38–3.30)
Obese
Very obese
US
England
Taiwan
US
England
Taiwan
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
OR (95% CI)
Cardiovascular risk factors
SBP measured
1.16 (0.66–2.04)
1.53 (1.24–1.90)
2.02 (0.90–4.53)
1.23 (0.64–2.40)
2.17 (1.67–2.82)
DBP measured
1.16 (0.38–3.54)
2.06 (1.39–3.05)
2.41 (1.13–5.13)
1.19 (0.36–3.96)
3.44 (2.22–5.32)
Metabolic risk factors
Total-C
1.18 (0.60–2.33)
0.82 (0.65–1.02)
1.30 (0.59–2.88)
1.32 (0.65–2.68)
0.67 (0.49–0.91)
HDL-C
2.88 (1.02–8.14)
1.71 (0.86–3.38)
0.99 (0.42–2.37)
2.89 (1.06–7.92)
4.66 (2.38–9.13)
LDL-C
1.57 (0.46–5.40)
1.01 (0.78–1.32)
0.90 (0.38–2.09)
1.84 (0.53–6.33)
0.96 (0.68–1.34)
Triglycerides
1.42 (0.57–3.56)
3.36 (2.10–5.37)
1.08 (0.40–2.92)
1.36 (0.51–3.64)
5.94 (3.54–9.97)
Fasting glucose
3.32 (1.01–10.87)
10.06 (1.21–83.81)
1.33 (0.56–3.15)
13.28 (4.23–41.66)
37.51 (4.71–298.77)
Glycated hemoglobin
3.47 (1.41–8.52)
3.65 (2.37–5.62)
1.52 (0.69–3.36)
9.05 (3.92–20.87)
7.00 (4.40–11.12)
Inflammation markers
C-Reactive protein
4.93 (2.79–8.72)
4.18 (3.29–5.32)
10.08 (5.11–19.89)
8.61 (6.24–11.88)
Interleukin-6
1.05 (0.30–3.68)
SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, Total-C: total cholesterol, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval. All models adjusted for age, use of antihypertensives, smoking status, and physical activity. High-waist circumference men ≥ 102 cm, women ≥ 88 cm. Referent group = normal body mass index (18.5–29.9 kg/m2) + normal waist. The results are not computed for Very Obese in Taiwan because too few individuals are classified as very obese.
