Independent and joint associations of general and abdominal obesity with the risk of conventional adenomas and serrated polyps: A large population‐based study in East Asia

Abstract

Evidence regarding associations of general and abdominal obesity with the risk of conventional adenomas (ADs) and serrated polyps (SPs) from Asian population is scarce. Our study aimed to investigate the independent and joint associations of general obesity assessed by body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity assessed by waist circumference (WC) or waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) with the risk of ADs and SPs among 25 222 participants recruited by a population‐based screening program. Compared to participants with normal BMI, those with a BMI ≥28 kg/m ² had increased risk of ADs (odds ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36‐1.70) and SPs (OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.38‐2.07). For participants with a WC ≥102 cm (≥88 cm for females), the risk of ADs (OR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.25‐1.51) and SPs (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.52‐2.16) was higher than that of the reference group. For participants with a WHR ≥0.95 (≥0.90 for females), the risk of ADs (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16‐1.36) and SPs (OR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.26‐1.69) was higher than that of the reference group. Moreover, participants with both BMI ≥28 kg/m ² and WC ≥102 cm (≥88 cm for females) had 61% and 119% higher risk of ADs (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.39‐1.85) and SPs (OR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.70‐2.82) compared to those with both normal BMI and WC. These findings indicate that both general and abdominal obesity are associated with SPs and ADs, presenting stronger association with SPs than ADs. Moreover, the association is more evident when both obesities exist.