title: Identifying metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) individuals in a nondiabetic Korean population: the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort (CMC) study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and identify the phenotype of individuals suspected to be metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven nondiabetic subjects aged over 40 years were selected from the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort study performed in 2003-2006 in Korea. Those within the highest quartile in the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) with a normal body mass index (BMI) between 18·5 and 23 kg/m(2) were classified as MONW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on anthropometry, lipid profiles and HOMA-IR values were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of MONW was 14·2% for men and 12·9% for women amongst normal-weight subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that total cholesterol (TC) levels over 5·17 mm (odds ratio, OR = 1·481; 95% confidence intervals, CI 1·086-2·021), triglyceride (TG) levels over 1·69 mm (OR = 1·507; 95% CI 1·093-2·077) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels lower than 1·03 mm (OR = 1·580; 95% CI 1·053-2·371) independently had higher odds of diagnosing MONW amongst men. For women, a BMI over 21·5 kg/m(2) (OR = 1·405; 95% CI 1·034-1·909), TC levels over 5·17 mm (OR = 1·524; 95% CI 1·112-2·090) and TG levels over 1·69 mm (OR = 1·799; 95% CI 1·302-2·487) were independently associated with a diagnosis of MONW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 10% of normal-weight subjects were classed as MONW in this cohort. Identification of these subjects based on lipid profiles could aid in the early detection of a high risk group of developing cardiometabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Young-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyeon-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Kun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Moo-Il
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won-Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Yong-Moon
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyuk-Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D007723:Korea; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides