Relationship between abdominal obesity and alcohol drinking pattern in normal-weight, middle-aged adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2013

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2017-08, Vol.20 (12), p.2192-2200
• Main Authors: Park, Kye-Yeung, Park, Hoon-Ki, Hwang, Hwan-sik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Aged; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcohols; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drinking; Drinking behavior; Exercise; Female; Habits; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Life Style; Male; Men; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Epidemiology; Obesity; Obesity, Abdominal - epidemiology; Obesity, Abdominal - etiology; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Research Papers; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist Circumference
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980017001045

Abdominal obesity is associated with obesity-related health risks regardless of body weight. The present study aimed to determine whether alcohol drinking pattern is associated with abdominal obesity in normal-weight, middle-aged adults. Cross-sectional study using complex sampling design analyses. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 2008 to 2013. Normal-weight participants aged 40-69 years with BMI of 18·5-25·0 kg/m2 (n 11 289, 4491 men and 6798 women) were included. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm for men or ≥85 cm for women. Alcohol drinking pattern was assessed by self-report on questionnaires. Among 11 289 normal-weight participants, 7·9 % (n 379) of men and 7·6 % (n 609) of women had abdominal obesity. Both men and women who consumed a higher quantity of alcohol per drinking occasion had higher odds (OR; 95 % CI) for abdominal obesity compared with individuals who consumed fewer than 2 drinks (1·86; 1·04, 3·32 for ≥10 drinks/typical occasion in men; and 3·28; 1·13, 9·46 in women). Men who binge drink every day had higher odds for abdominal obesity (2·10; 1·21, 3·63). In both sexes, frequency of alcohol drinking was not associated with normal-weight abdominal obesity. Our study showed that the amount of alcohol drinking per occasion influenced abdominal obesity in normal-weight, middle-aged individuals that may have impacted obesity-related health risks. Healthy alcohol drinking habits need to be controlled for prevention of abdominal obesity even among persons with normal weight.