Abstract
Body Mass Index (BMI) is widely used to screen for cardiometabolic risk but fails to account for Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), the metabolically active fat depot linked to cardiovascular disease. Consequently, individuals with a low BMI but high VAT (“Occult Obesity”) may face unrecognized health risks that limit the opportunity for early engagement in necessary lifestyle modifications. PURPOSE: To investigate the independent effects of BMI-VAT discordance on body composition, vital signs, and dietary intake in Hispanic adults. METHODS: Seventy-nine adults (Age 51.9 ± 7.8 yrs) underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans for body composition analysis. Participants were stratified into six phenotypes based on BMI Category (Low < 25, Mid 25-29.9, High ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) and VAT volume (Low < 1000 cm3 vs. High > 1000 cm3 ). Vital signs were collected manually, including resting heart rate (RHR, bpm) with a chest monitor, and blood pressure (BP, mmHg) auscultated after complete rest. Lastly, participants also completed a 3-day dietary paper-based dietary recall that was analyzed with an online platform. A Univariate Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for Age and Sex, was utilized to compare vital signs [systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP)], body fat percentage (BF%), and nutritional variables across the six groups. RESULTS: Results indicated distinct physiological profiles across BMIVAT phenotypes, characterized by significant disparities in central adiposity, total body composition, and vital signs. Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) emerged as the strongest differentiator [F(5,70) = 7.82, p < 0.001], identifying central obesity patterns that were otherwise masked by BMI classification. This central accumulation was paralleled by significant differences in total BF% [F(5,70) = 4.47, p = 0.001], where individuals with occult visceral adiposity exhibited relative fat mass comparable to their obese counterparts. Consequently, this adverse body composition translated into systemic cardiovascular strain, evidenced by a significant main effect for Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) [F(5,70) = 2.81, p = 0.023], with high-VAT phenotypes demonstrating elevated MAP independent of their total body weight. CONCLUSION: BMI significantly misrepresents cardiometabolic health in Hispanic adults by masking a high-risk “Occult Obesity” phenotype characterized by elevated MAP and excessive relative adiposity. Since these hypertensive risks occur independent of total body weight, clinical reliance on BMI alone delays critical interventions. Effective risk stratification requires the direct assessment of central adiposity to identify this silent, hypertensive cohort and initiate timely lifestyle modifications.
Recommended Citation
Perez, Mia I.; Guadiana, Marcela; Morales, Grecia V.; Gamboa, Marianna; and Moris, Jose M.
(2026)
"Discordant Visceral Adiposity Phenotypes Reveal Hidden Cardiometabolic Risks,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
18, Article 64.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/64