Metabolic Disorders and Metabolically Obese Normal-Weight in Burkinabe Adults: Increasing Prevalences Across Normal BMI Quartiles, Using the 2013 STEPS Database

: Background: Majority of Burkinabè adults were normal-weight by body mass index (BMI). This study explored by gender, the metabolic abnormalities and “metabolic obesity with body weight” (MONW) throughout the normal BMI quartiles (Q) of Burkinabè adults. Methods: We performed a secondary-analysis of data from the first WHO Stepwise approach to surveillance survey conducted in 2013 in Burkina Faso, and only adults with BMI between 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m² were included. Metabolic disorders (individual abnormal metabolic syndrome component, having at least two abnormalities and MONW) were described in BMI’ quartiles, for each gender, and the risk of occurrence of having at least two abnormalities or MONW was analysed using quartiles as dependent variables, after adjustment on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results: I n the 3112 adults with normal BMI and despite their gender, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was widespread (>75%) and its distribution did not differ across quartiles, as for raised fasting blood glucose (its prevalence was low ≈ 8%). Elevated blood pressure was the predominant abnormality in overall men (35.3%) with a significant increment starting at Q3 and reached 42.8% in Q4, while abdominal obesity was predominant in overall women (27.2%) with a significant increase starting at Q2, and reached 53.8% in Q4. In men, MONW was low (2.3%), while 30.6% had at least two abnormalities with an increasing pick starting at Q3, and prevalence was 38.0% in Q4. In women, the prevalence of MONW and those with at least two abnormalities was 8% and 39% respectively, with a common significant elevation beginning at Q3 and respectively reached 16% and 56% in Q4. Independently of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, the number of metabolic abnormalities started to increase at Q3 in both sexes. Conclusion: Prevalence of adults with at least two metabolic abnormalities was considerable, and the number of abnormalities increased with normal BMI, and more severely in female gender in whom the prevalence of MONW was alarming. Abnormalities should also be early screened in normal-weight Burkinabè adults, more especially when their BMI reaches the Q3 cut-offs, i.e., 21.5 and 21.1 kg/m² respectively for men and women.