Hidden Metabolic Risks in Young Adults: an Analysis of Obesity, Prediabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia

Abstrak

Metabolic disorders in young adults often go unnoticed because they develop gradually without early symptoms. Conditions such as obesity, prediabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia are increasingly observed among university students and may elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. This study aimed to analyze hidden metabolic risks in young adults by examining obesity, prediabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. A cross-sectional design was employed involving 131 respondents. Data were classified based on BMI categories as well as clinical thresholds for blood glucose and cholesterol. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test. The findings showed that hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia were present across all nutritional status categories, including students with normal BMI and those underweight. No significant association was found between BMI and blood glucose (p = 0.767) or cholesterol levels (p = 0.663), and further analysis also indicated no effect of BMI on metabolic risk. These results suggest that metabolic indicators do not always correspond to BMI, highlighting the need for more comprehensive health screening among young adults to enable early detection and long-term prevention of metabolic disorders.