Multiple obesity indicators are significantly associated with an increased risk of retinopathy, with the weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) showing the strongest predictive value, according to a study.
Researchers used weighted logistic regression and subgroup analyses on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the relationship between different obesity indicators and retinal disease.
Higher values in indices such as body roundness index, conicity index, waist-to-height ratio, tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), WWI, and body mass index (BMI) were all linked to greater odds of developing retinopathy. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a linear relationship for all indicators except BMI. Subgroup analyses found the association to be consistent across age, sex, ethnicity, and education levels.
Among all markers, WWI demonstrated the strongest predictive value for retinopathy in ROC curve comparisons.
Reference
Wang CX, Kuang M, Hou JJ, et al. Association between obesity indicators and retinopathy in US adults: NHANES 2005-2008. Front Nutr. 2025;12:1598240. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1598240. PMID: 40626226; PMCID: PMC12229866.
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