The association between the weight-adjusted waist index and dyslipidemia: A national cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007 to 2018

The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) has been proposed as a potentially superior alternative for evaluating central obesity and its associated risks. Although WWI has been studied in various contexts, there is currently a lack of research that specifically examines the relationship between WWI and dyslipidemia. We analyzed a 12-year dataset (2007-2018) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 14,013 subjects divided into dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic groups based on their lipid profiles. WWI was calculated as waist circumference (WC) in centimeters divided by the square root of weight in kilograms. Our analysis used multivariate logistic regression, smoothing spline analysis, and generalized additive models. The fully adjusted model, accounting for factors such as age, sex, and socioeconomic status, showed a significant association between dyslipidemia and WWI, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-1.88). Similar associations were observed for body mass index (OR, 1.06; 95% CI: 1.06-1.07) and WC (OR, 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02-1.03). Subgroup analyses revealed significant demographic variations in the relationship between WWI and dyslipidemia, which were influenced by factors such as sex, age, education, and marital status. WWI was positively correlated with dyslipidemia, offering insights comparable to those provided by body mass index and WC. These findings suggest that WWI might serve as a valuable tool for assessing dyslipidemia risk, potentially complementing the existing metrics.