Purpose
This study aimed to examine the effects of health-related behaviors on metabolically healthy non-obese or obese groups and to analyze gender differences.
Methods
This study was a secondary descriptive study. A total of 14,277 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013~2015 were classified as: metabolically healthy non-obese; metabolically unhealthy non-obese; metabolically healthy obese; or metabolically unhealthy obese. Five health-related behaviors (amount of alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, daily energy intake, and sleep duration) were included as independent variables.
Results
The health-related behaviors associated with metabolic status in non-obese participants were drinking and smoking, whereas those of obese individuals were associated with physical activity. Subgroup analysis showed that more metabolically healthy non-obese men were light drinkers and former smokers than metabolically unhealthy non-obese men. Metabolically healthy non-obese women were more likely to engage in physical activity than metabolically unhealthy non-obese women. Among the obese men, light drinking and physical activity were associated with metabolic status.
Conclusion
Evidence-based interventions promoting health-related behaviors are needed to support metabolic health, considering the metabolic status and obesity phenotypes of the participants and their gender.

Citations

• Health Characteristics, Nutrient Intake, and Associated Risk Factors According to the Metabolic Health and Obesity Status in Korean Adults : Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015
  Jounghee Lee, Seonghyun Lim, Young-Min Lee
  Korean Journal of Human Ecology.2023; 32(6): 845.     CrossRef