Abstract
Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Body composition, particularly fat distribution, is closely linked to lipid metabolism. However, data on these associations among middle-aged and elderly populations of specific ethnic minorities in China remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the ethnic- and gender-specific associations between body composition and dyslipidemia from a medical anthropology perspective. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,652 individuals aged ≥ 45 years from four ethnic minorities (Maonan, Mulao, Miao, and Yao) in Guangxi, China. Body composition parameters were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Fasting blood lipids were assessed. Correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, with adjustment for potential confounders. Ethnic interaction tests were conducted to explore ethnic heterogeneity in the associations. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 59.3%. Serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were positively correlated with weight, BMI, fat mass, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), while HDL-C was negatively correlated (all P < 0.01). No significant ethnic interaction was observed in the main association models (P-interaction > 0.05). Significant gender differences were found. WHR was an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia in women (OR = 3.23, 95%CI: 1.48–7.07). In men, high trunk fat mass (OR = 6.51, 95%CI: 1.06–39.95) and lower limb fat mass (OR = 13.33, 95%CI: 2.08–85.43) were significant risk factors (note: small sample size in the highest quartile caused wide confidence intervals). Body fat composition, especially central and region-specific fat distribution, is strongly and differentially associated with dyslipidemia among middle-aged and elderly individuals from four ethnic minorities in Guangxi. WHR is a key risk indicator in women, while trunk and lower limb fat mass are critical in men. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the importance of gender-tailored strategies for early screening and prevention of dyslipidemia in this population.
Data availability
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this study are stored in the data repository of Basic Medical College of Guangxi Medical University and are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author (Xiquan Wang, 280704@njucm.edu.cn). The analyzed data are included in the tables of this article.
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Funding
Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31360259); and Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31160222).
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Author Contributions: Hongrong Yu: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft. Xiquan Wang: Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Qiongying Deng, Aojie Chen , Yini Du, Yue Deng, Yale Lei: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
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The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study get the approval by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi Medical University. The committee has approved the research, confirm that all research was performed in accordance with relevant guidelines/regulations, and include in their manuscript a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants and/or their legal guardians. Research involving human research participants have been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Note: Menopausal status was not recorded due to field survey limitations, which is a study limitation.
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Yu, H., Deng, Q., Deng, Y. et al. Association between body composition and dyslipidemia in middle-aged and elderly ethnic minorities in Guangxi. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40937-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40937-1
