Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to present nationally representative findings on the co-occurrence of obesity and
specific patterns of alcohol use associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among adults in the United States. We analyzed data from 8,373 adults aged ≥ 20 years
who participated in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We produced prevalence ratios by using
the co-occurrence of obesity (i.e., body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women) and specific patterns of alcohol use (i.e., non-drinkers, non-excessive
drinkers, and excessive drinkers) as a predictor; elevations in serum ALT, AST, and GGT were used as an outcome variable while
adjusting for covariates in multivariate regression models. Approximately 34.7% of adult men and 38.6% of adult women in the
United States had co-occurrence of obesity and any alcohol use, including 16.4% of men and 9.8% of women who had co-occurrence
of obesity and excessive drinking during 2005–2008. When compared to male non-drinkers without obesity after multivariate
adjustment, male excessive drinkers with obesity were 3.08 (95% CI: 1.80–5.28), 2.42 (95% CI: 1.80–3.26), and 3.15 (95% CI:
1.82–5.46) times more likely to exhibit elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. Similarly, when compared to female
non-drinkers without obesity, female excessive drinkers with obesity were 2.36 (95% CI: 1.38–4.04), 3.27 (95% CI: 1.85–5.78),
and 3.43 (95% CI: 2.19–5.40) times more likely to have elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. The co-occurrence of
obesity and excessive drinking may place adults at an increased risk for potential liver injury. Our study findings provide
support for evidence-based clinical and population-based interventions that integrate health behavior change among adults
who have these co-occurring risk factors.
specific patterns of alcohol use associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among adults in the United States. We analyzed data from 8,373 adults aged ≥ 20 years
who participated in the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We produced prevalence ratios by using
the co-occurrence of obesity (i.e., body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women) and specific patterns of alcohol use (i.e., non-drinkers, non-excessive
drinkers, and excessive drinkers) as a predictor; elevations in serum ALT, AST, and GGT were used as an outcome variable while
adjusting for covariates in multivariate regression models. Approximately 34.7% of adult men and 38.6% of adult women in the
United States had co-occurrence of obesity and any alcohol use, including 16.4% of men and 9.8% of women who had co-occurrence
of obesity and excessive drinking during 2005–2008. When compared to male non-drinkers without obesity after multivariate
adjustment, male excessive drinkers with obesity were 3.08 (95% CI: 1.80–5.28), 2.42 (95% CI: 1.80–3.26), and 3.15 (95% CI:
1.82–5.46) times more likely to exhibit elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. Similarly, when compared to female
non-drinkers without obesity, female excessive drinkers with obesity were 2.36 (95% CI: 1.38–4.04), 3.27 (95% CI: 1.85–5.78),
and 3.43 (95% CI: 2.19–5.40) times more likely to have elevated serum ALT, AST, and GGT, respectively. The co-occurrence of
obesity and excessive drinking may place adults at an increased risk for potential liver injury. Our study findings provide
support for evidence-based clinical and population-based interventions that integrate health behavior change among adults
who have these co-occurring risk factors.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-011-9353-5
- Authors
- James Tsai, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Earl S. Ford, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Guixiang Zhao, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Chaoyang Li, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Kurt J. Greenlund, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Janet B. Croft, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop K67, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715