COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Janet Antwi

TITLE: EXPLORING THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG METABOLIC HEALTH, DIETARY QUALITY, LIFESTYLE FACTORS, AND ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES IN ADULTS WITH OBESITY

ABSTRACT: Obesity impacts more than 40% of adults in the United States and is connected to a heightened risk of metabolic disorders, heart conditions, and type 2 diabetes. The relationships among metabolic health, dietary quality, lifestyle habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and body composition in obese individuals remain poorly elucidated, hindering the development of tailored nutritional therapies. The objective of this cross-sectional pilot study was to examine the relationships among metabolic health indicators, dietary quality (evaluated using the Short Healthy Eating Index and 24-hour dietary recalls), lifestyle factors, anthropometric measurements, and sociodemographic characteristics in adults with obesity. Fifteen individuals with obesity (BMI =30 kg/m²) underwent single assessments encompassing blood collection for metabolic markers (lipid profile, HbA1c, fasting glucose), anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis), and self-reported dietary and lifestyle information. Correlations were analyzed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation, and group differences in sociodemographic and lifestyle categories were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with the Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. The sample (N=15) consisted primarily of females (67%) and individuals identifying as Black/African American (73%), with a mean BMI of 35.74 kg/m² and suboptimal overall dietary quality (mean sHEI total: 45.89 out of 100). Unadjusted Spearman correlations indicated negative connections between muscle mass percentage and triglycerides (? = -0.56, p = 0.030) and VLDL cholesterol (? = -0.53, p = 0.041), as well as between visceral fat percentage and triglycerides (? = -0.53, p = 0.044). Group comparisons revealed significant unadjusted disparities by sex in body fat % (p < 0.001), muscle mass percentage (p < 0.001), and visceral fat percentage (p = 0.003), alongside relationships between physical activity and body composition (p = 0.014-0.029). Although directionally aligned with physiological expectations, no relationships remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons, possibly due to inadequate statistical power stemming from the small sample size. The identified patterns-specifically the inverse correlations between muscle mass and lipid markers, as well as the interactions between physical activity and advantageous body composition-indicate biologically plausible links that need exploration in larger, sufficiently powered research.

Keywords: Obesity, metabolic health, anthropometry, lifestyle habits, body composition, short healthy eating index

Room Location: Agriculture Business Multipurpose Building, Room 221

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Zoom Link:
https://pvpanther.zoom.us/j/91547598880?pwd=4RLAHFaK1Css9IqDYb0swdNaVjWS2G.1

Meeting ID: 915 4759 8880
Passcode: 619093