Metabolic obesity phenotypes and PhenoAge acceleration in 8,986 US adults
In NHANES 1999–2018 data from 8,986 adults, metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity, metabolically unhealthy normal weight and metabolically healthy overweight/obesity were each linked to greater PhenoAge acceleration than metabolically healthy normal weight, most strongly for metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The analysis included 8,986 adults from NHANES 1999–2018, 38.5% male, with a mean chronological age of 48.15 years. [1]
Metabolically healthy overweight/obesity was associated with 1.91 years greater PhenoAge acceleration than metabolically healthy normal weight. [1]
The most pronounced accelerated biological aging was observed in the metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity group. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Population-based observational study (abstract).
- Population / context
- 8,986 adults participating in NHANES 1999–2018.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- June 9, 2026
Four BMI-metabolic phenotypes in NHANES adults
The study asked how metabolic health status and excess body weight together relate to biological aging. It analyzed 8,986 adults from NHANES 1999–2018, of whom 38.5% were male, with a mean chronological age of 48.15 years. Participants were grouped into four phenotypes: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight/obesity, metabolically unhealthy normal weight and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity. Biological age was estimated with PhenoAge, and age acceleration was calculated from it.
Supporting source [1]
Greater PhenoAge acceleration across three phenotypes
Compared with metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight/obesity showed 1.91 years greater PhenoAge acceleration. The abstract reports that the metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity, metabolically unhealthy normal weight and metabolically healthy overweight/obesity phenotypes all showed accelerated biological aging relative to metabolically healthy normal weight, with the most pronounced effect in the metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity group. The mean PhenoAge of the sample was 47.65 years.
Supporting source [1]
Observational design and abstract-only scope
This was a population-based analysis using weighted multivariable regression, subgroup, interaction and sensitivity analyses. It describes associations between phenotypes and estimated biological age, not causes of aging, and PhenoAge is an estimate rather than a clinical outcome. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so details of measurement, adjustment and follow-up are not available here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is an observational population-based study reporting associations, not causal effects, and biological age was estimated with PhenoAge rather than measured as a clinical outcome.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Lu J, Cai W, Fang D, Bi Y, Gu T. · europepmc.org · June 9, 2026