Associations between triglyceride glucose index-related obesity indices and anxiety: Insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2012

Background

The triglyceride glucose index (TyG), along with its associated obesity indices, including TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR), TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC), and TyG-weight-adjusted-waist index (TyG-WWI), have become valuable tools for evaluating insulin resistance in metabolic diseases. Few researches explored their links with anxiety.

Methods

This observational study leveraged data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2012), analyzing 6726 participants to investigate the correlations between TyG-related indices and anxiety using multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and curve fitting.

Results

After adjusting for confounders, significant positive correlations were identified between TyG, TyG-WWI, and anxious days [0.792 (0.262, 1.322); 0.033 (0.003, 0.063)]. These findings were reinforced when TyG-related indices were categorized into quartiles. Positive associations were further observed between TyG and anxiety state [1.243 (1.076, 1.437)], which was consistent across quartile groupings. Subgroup analyses revealed that racial stratification significantly influenced the relationship between TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC, TyG-WWI and anxious days. Gender stratification significantly influenced the relationship between TyG and anxiety state. Linear associations were established between TyG and anxious days, anxiety state with regression coefficients of 0.873 and 1.254 respectively. Non-linear relationships and threshold effects were detected, with inflection points at 187.731, 3.040, 725.288, and 104.011 (for TyG-BMI, TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC, TyG-WWI with anxious days) and 188.677, 3.059, 730.251, and 103.869 (for TyG-BMI, TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC, TyG-WWI with anxiety state).

Conclusions

These results enhance our understanding of relationships between TyG-related indices and anxiety, providing valuable insights for the prevention and management of obesity and anxiety.