In August 2018 researchers from Japan and the USA published the results of their study to compare the incidence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia according to BMI in Japanese and American individuals. A total of 90,047 Japanese adults and 14,734 American adults were involved in the study. Results showed that the incidence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia was significantly higher in the USA than in Japan, whereas there was no difference in the incidence of hyperuricemia. An analysis revealed that a higher BMI increased the risk of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hyperuricemia both in Japan and the USA, after adjusting for confounders, for example age, sex, smoking and drinking habits, chronic kidney disease and other cardiovascular risk factors. A further analysis revealed that the BMI level at which the incidence of these medical conditions increased was significantly higher in the USA than in Japan (27 vs. 23 kg/m² for hypertension, 29 vs. 23 kg/m² for diabetes, 26 vs. 22 kg/m² for dyslipidaemia, and 27 vs. 23 kg/m² for hyperuricemia). The researchers therefore concluded that the findings suggested that the same definition of overweight/obesity may not be the same in both countries.
Kuwabara M et al. Different Risk for Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, and Hyperuricemia According to Level of Body Mass Index in Japanese and American Subjects. Nutrients. 2018 Aug 3;10(8). pii: E1011