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When it comes to losing weight and managing body weight, people often focus on reducing oil and sugar intake. However, did you know that lowering your salt intake can also significantly help in improving obesity? This conclusion comes from a longitudinal study conducted by the Institute for Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China. The study investigated the association between salt intake levels and physical measurement indicators related to obesity.
The research, based on the 2017-2021 Zhejiang Province Salt Reduction and Hypertension Prevention Project, included 5,720 participants with complete physical examination and urine test data. Researchers estimated participants’ daily salt intake using morning urine data combined with a 24-hour urinary sodium excretion model. They also collected measurements like height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference to calculate metrics such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI).
The study estimated the average daily salt intake among all participants was 9.82 ± 2.25 grams. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the researchers found a clear association between higher salt intake and increased BMI and BRI. Compared to those consuming less than 7 grams of salt per day, participants consuming 7-10 grams had a BMI higher by 0.42, those consuming 10-13 grams had a BMI higher by 0.93, and those consuming over 13 grams had a BMI higher by 1.43.
Body Roundness Index (BRI), also known as Body Circularity Index, is considered a better indicator than BMI for reflecting whether visceral fat content is excessive. The study showed a similar trend for BRI: compared to the <7g salt group, the 7-10g group had a BRI higher by 0.06, the 10-13g group by 0.22, and the >13g group by 0.38. This suggests, roughly speaking, that higher salt intake is associated with a higher risk of visceral fat accumulation.
Furthermore, the study found a non-linear association between salt intake and both BMI and BRI. The increase in these indicators accelerated notably when daily salt intake reached 10-13 grams. The risk of overweight and central obesity also increased significantly with higher salt intake. Compared to the group consuming less than 7 grams of salt per day, the risk of being overweight was 1.44 times higher for those consuming 7-10 grams, 2.11 times higher for 10-13 grams, and 2.82 times higher for over 13 grams. Similarly, the risk of central obesity was 1.33 times higher for 7-10 grams, 1.79 times higher for 10-13 grams, and 2.65 times higher for over 13 grams.
Interestingly, when the data was analyzed by gender and age, the association between salt intake levels and obesity-related physical measurements was found to be stronger in women than in men. The association was also stronger among individuals under 40 years old, showing significant age heterogeneity.
In summary, the researchers concluded that salt intake is significantly positively correlated with Body Mass Index and Body Roundness Index, and significantly associated with a higher risk of overweight and central obesity. This association is particularly pronounced in women and individuals under 40. These findings strongly suggest that reducing salt intake could be a beneficial strategy for improving obesity levels as part of a healthy lifestyle.
