Objective: To explore the relationships between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutional types and overweight or obesity so as to provide evidence for adjusting constitutional bias and preventing and treating obesity.
Methods: The data comes from a cross-sectional survey on TCM constitution of 18 805 samples aged above 18 in Beijing and 8 provinces (Jiangsu, Anhui, Gansu, Qinghai, Fujian, Jilin, Jiangxi and Henan) in China. The survey of TCM constitution was performed by standardized constitution in Chinese medicine questionnaire (CCMQ). Discriminatory analysis method was used to judge the individual's constitutional type (gentleness type, qi-deficiency type, yang-deficiency type, yin-deficiency type, phlegm-dampness type, dampness-heat type, blood-stasis type, qi-depression type and special diathesis type). The relationships between TCM constitution types and overweight or obesity was investigated by logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with gentleness type, the risk of overweight (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.79-2.35) and obesity (OR, 4.34; 95% CI, 3.52-5.36) in phlegm-dampness type is significantly increased; the risk of obesity (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.98) in qi-deficiency type is significantly higher; the risk of overweight and obesity in yang-deficiency type, blood-stasis type, and qi-depression type is significantly lower.
Conclusion: Phlegm-dampness type and qi-deficiency type are the main constitutional risk factors of overweight or obesity.