Association of Body Mass Index with Dyslipidemia Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia is increasingly prevalent among young adults and contributes significantly to future cardiovascular disease risk. Body Mass Index (BMI), a simple indicator of adiposity, has been associated with lipid abnormalities in various populations. However, limited data are available regarding this association among Indian medical students and young adults.
Objectives: To assess the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and dyslipidemia among young adults.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 113 young adults aged 19–30 years in a medical college setting. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference were recorded using standard procedures. Fasting venous blood samples were collected for lipid profile analysis including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). Dyslipidemia was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and lipid parameters. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean BMI of the participants was 24.5 ± 4.92 kg/m². Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were 134 ± 23.3 mg/dL, 96 ± 47.4 mg/dL, 29.8 ± 5.16 mg/dL, 85.1 ± 22.1 mg/dL, and 19.2 ± 9.48 mg/dL respectively. BMI demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation with triglycerides (r = 0.243, p = 0.009) and VLDL-C (r = 0.243, p = 0.009). Weak positive correlations were observed between BMI and total cholesterol (r = 0.141, p = 0.137) and BMI and LDL-C (r = 0.129, p = 0.174), which were statistically non-significant.
Conclusion: BMI showed significant association with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins among young adults, suggesting early metabolic alterations related to adiposity. The findings emphasize the importance of early screening and lifestyle interventions in young populations to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.