Metabolic Scarring: The Persistent Impact of Past Obesity on Long-Term Metabolic Health Despite Weight Loss.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conventional cardiometabolic risk assessment relies primarily on a patient's current body mass index, yet individuals who have lost weight after a period of obesity may continue to harbour elevated metabolic risk. We sought to quantify the persistent impact of past obesity on glycaemic control and to develop a clinical risk score that integrates weight history with current risk factors.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 15,422 adults (≥ 18 years) from the 2011-2020 NHANES cycles. Participants with complete self-reported weight history (highest adult weight, weight 1 year ago, number of ≥ 5% weight-loss episodes) and measured BMI were included. Metabolic scarring was defined by elevated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ≥ 5.7%) or HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5. We applied in

SUBMITTER: Hemade A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12276455 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature