Metabolic characterization of overweight and obese adults

Obesity is associated with diseases such as metabolic syndrome, but not all obese individuals have traditional markers of dysfunction like insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. To characterize metabolic health in 49 overweight and obese adults, body composition (fat mass [FM], lean mass [LM], percent body fat [%fat]), was calculated using a 4-compartment model; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was quantified using B-mode ultrasound. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory exchange ratio (at rest and during exercise), fasting lipids, insulin, and leptin were also analyzed. Fat mass, %fat, and VAT correlated with insulin and leptin (r=0.369-0.829; p0.05). Higher RMR was associated with LM (r=0.900, p<0.001). When evaluating body composition and metabolism in addition to traditional metabolic syndrome criteria, individuals with disease risk increased from 29% to 80%. Lean mass, VAT, RMR, and hormones may be indicators of metabolic dysfunction in the absence of traditional risk factors.