Prevalence of normal weight obesity among adults in Southeast Asia: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Normal Weight Obesity (NWO) describes individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) but elevated body fat percentage (BF%), placing them at increased risk for cardiometabolic complications. This condition is particularly relevant in Southeast Asian populations, where visceral adiposity occurs at lower BMI thresholds. However, regional pooled prevalence data are limited.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2010 and May 2025. Eligible studies included observational data on adults (≥18 years) from Southeast Asia reporting NWO prevalence, defined by normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) with validated surrogate indices indicative of excess adiposity. Two revie

SUBMITTER: Sruthi KG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664499 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature