Trends in Anthropometric and Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Changes Among Health Professionals: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in Taiwan

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the trend of anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk (CMRs) changes among health professionals over a three-year period at a medical center in Taiwan. Study Design: A 3-year follow-up cohort study design. Methods: This cohort study was conducted from 2019 to 2022 in a single healthcare center. The participants underwent annual physical check-ups for three consecutive years. CMRs were measured using standard methods and weight status change was measured using BMI. We used McNemar test and Wilcoxon Sign Rank test to evaluate the differences within and between subgroups. We used logistic regression to examine the risk of increased CMRs among subgroups of different weight status changes. Results: A total of 2217 participants (1641 females and 576 males) were included in this study, with a mean age of 40.2 ± 10.2 years. During this period, 72 (4.4%) female participants’ weight status changed from normal weight to overweight or obese and 530 (32.3%) remained overweight or obese. Among males, the proportion was 6.8% and 61.1%, respectively (p < 0.01). Participants who remained overweight or obese have more adverse CMRs. Compared to remained normal weight male subjects, the mean systolic blood pressure (131.0 ± 18.1 mmHg) and fasting blood glucose (94.4 ± 13.5 mg/dL) were higher in remained overweight or obese subjects (p < 0.001). Among females, those who remained overweight or obese have 4.01 (95% CI 2.92–5.51) times higher risk for abnormal diastolic blood pressure and 2.98 (95% CI 2.05–4.32) times higher risk for abnormal blood glucose compared to those with remained normal weight. Conclusions: Participants who remained overweight or became obese had more adverse CMRs such as high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia during the 3-year follow-up period.