Clinical heterogeneity and transitions of obesity in Mexico
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Context
There is large variation in the individual risk of developing obesity-associated comorbidities. While obesity is highly prevalent in Mexico, data on the extent and heterogeneity of its associated comorbidities are lacking.
Objective
We estimated the prevalence of different obesity-associated comorbidities, and how they have changed over 15 years.
Methods
We gathered data from different editions of nationally representative health and nutrition surveys (ENSANUT) from 2006 to 2022. The prevalence of obesity and the coexistence with diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, depression, and impaired mobility, which are outcomes used in the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS), which assesses 3 dimensions (medical, mental, and functional) across 5 incremental severity stages, by sex and age groups, were estimated across all included surveys. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) was defined as the absence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
Results
A total of 20 758 participants were analyzed. Mean body mass index (BMI) increased progressively at all ages from 30.2 to 31.0 across survey rounds. Depression and impaired mobility were highly prevalent even among MHO individuals. While most people with obesity had at least one detectable abnormality, there was large heterogeneity in the presented comorbidities. The most prevalent EOSS categories were stage 2 for the medical dimension (90.1%), and stage 1 for the functional and mental dimensions (75.1% and 62.9%, respectively). The prevalence of obesity-related comorbidities increased with age but was similar across all surveys. In both sexes, MHO was less likely as age and BMI increased.
Conclusion
The prevalence of obesity comorbidities has been stable over time in Mexico but increases with age. The rising prevalence of obesity and the aging of the population will cause additional burdens to the population and the health system.
There is large variation in the individual risk of developing obesity-associated comorbidities. While obesity is highly prevalent in Mexico, data on the extent and heterogeneity of its associated comorbidities are lacking.
Objective
We estimated the prevalence of different obesity-associated comorbidities, and how they have changed over 15 years.
Methods
We gathered data from different editions of nationally representative health and nutrition surveys (ENSANUT) from 2006 to 2022. The prevalence of obesity and the coexistence with diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, depression, and impaired mobility, which are outcomes used in the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS), which assesses 3 dimensions (medical, mental, and functional) across 5 incremental severity stages, by sex and age groups, were estimated across all included surveys. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) was defined as the absence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
Results
A total of 20 758 participants were analyzed. Mean body mass index (BMI) increased progressively at all ages from 30.2 to 31.0 across survey rounds. Depression and impaired mobility were highly prevalent even among MHO individuals. While most people with obesity had at least one detectable abnormality, there was large heterogeneity in the presented comorbidities. The most prevalent EOSS categories were stage 2 for the medical dimension (90.1%), and stage 1 for the functional and mental dimensions (75.1% and 62.9%, respectively). The prevalence of obesity-related comorbidities increased with age but was similar across all surveys. In both sexes, MHO was less likely as age and BMI increased.
Conclusion
The prevalence of obesity comorbidities has been stable over time in Mexico but increases with age. The rising prevalence of obesity and the aging of the population will cause additional burdens to the population and the health system.
Date Issued
2025-11-01
Date Acceptance
2025-03-06
Citation
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2025, 110 (11), pp.e3648-e3655
ISSN
0021-972X
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
e3648
End Page
e3655
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume
110
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
Copyright © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40067968
PII: 8069811
Subjects
Diabetes
Dyslipidemia
ENSANUT
Hypertension
Mexico
Obesity
multi-morbidity
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
dgaf158
Date Publish Online
2025-03-11