Evaluation of the relationship between body composition measurements and metabolic syndrome severity score in obese individuals

Metabolic syndrome, characterized by a combination of obesity, hypertension, and metabolic abnormalities (lipid and glucose dysregulation), significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between body composition and severity of metabolic syndrome in obese individuals. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 180 individuals who sought treatment at an obesity center. Key variables included body mass index (BMI), fat mass, muscle mass, and the metabolic syndrome severity score. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between body composition parameters and metabolic syndrome severity score. Of the 180 participants, 92.8% were female and 7.2% were male. Individuals with higher metabolic syndrome severity scores had significantly higher age, BMI, fat mass, muscle mass, and fat and muscle ratios. Logistic regression analysis revealed that each 1-unit increase in BMI was associated with a 1.288-fold increase in the risk of a higher metabolic syndrome severity score. However, fat and muscle mass as well as their percentages were not significantly associated with the score. BMI emerged as a key factor influencing the severity of metabolic syndrome in obese individuals, whereas other body composition parameters did not show a significant relationship. These findings highlight the importance of BMI in the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome, and underscore the need for further research with larger sample sizes.