兰州市3～12岁儿童BMI肥胖标准参考值

目的:探讨兰州市3～12岁儿童超重、肥胖BMI正常参考值。方法:采用随机整群分层抽样方法,选择兰州市区城市人口为主的4所小学和5所幼儿园3～12岁男女儿童3 200人进行体格测量。计算BMI百分位数分布,通过拟合BMI界值模型,最终确定兰州市学龄前及学龄儿童肥胖、超重BMI界值。结果:建立了兰州市3～12岁儿童超重、肥胖BMI正常参考值。按照本研究初拟界值判断,兰州市7、9、10、12岁组儿童超重问题最突出,每10人当中至少有1人超重;3～6岁儿童超重、肥胖随年龄增大而上升,其中在5岁期间增长幅度迅速增大;10岁组肥胖比例最高。结论:本研究各年龄组儿童除9岁和10岁男童超重、肥胖BMI界值在P80和P90百分位数,其余各组儿童主要集中在P85和P95百分位数。兰州市3～12岁儿童超重检出率女童高于男童(男童8.57%,女童9.39%),男童肥胖检出率高于女童(男童6.07%,女童4.32%),男女童在超重和肥胖检出率上并不总是男童高于女童。     

成都市7～17岁儿童青少年超重肥胖BMI参考值研究

目的制定成都市7 ～17岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖的BMI界值。方法采用随机整群抽样方法,抽取成都市7 ～17岁儿童青少年6 396人,测量生长发育指标,作为建立BMI界值的数据库;以身高标准体重法为参照标准,绘制成ROC曲线,从中确立最佳界值点。结果运用ROC曲线法对成都市7 ～17岁男女童超重、肥胖的BMI界值点分析, 7 ～17岁男童超重最佳界值点的灵敏度在91% ～100%之间,平均97.5%,特异度在86% ～100%之间,平均94.7%;男童肥胖最佳界值点的灵敏度在90% ～100%之间,平均97.6%,特异度在92% ～100%之间,平均97.0%。7 ～17岁女童超重最佳界值点的灵敏度在94% ～100%之间,平均97.2%,特异度在88% ～100%之间,平均95.8%;女童肥胖最佳界值点的灵敏度各年龄组均为100%,特异度在96% ～100%之间,平均98.7%。结论据ROC曲线法对成都市7 ～17岁男童超重的BMI界值点参考值分别在17.40至22.71之间,肥胖在18.69至25.02之间; 7 ～17岁女童超重的BMI参考值分别在16.77至23.58之间,肥胖在18.48至26.24之间。男女童最佳界值点不同,随年龄增大,界值升高。     

西安市城区2013年0~6岁儿童超重肥胖流行病学调查

了解西安市城区2013年0~6岁儿童超重肥胖发病情况,为制定有效的干预措施提供理论依据.方法 采取整群分层抽样的方式,抽取西安市城区0~6岁儿童10 374名.以WH0 2007身高别体重肥胖标准作为诊断超重和肥胖的依据,将2013年西安市城区0~6岁儿童的超重/肥胖率与2005年全国同龄儿童进行比较.结果 2013年西安市城区0~6岁儿童的超重率为16.9%,肥胖率为8.2%.除3岁组与5岁组男童超重率高于女童(x2值分别19.696,11.756,P值均<0.01)外,其余年龄段儿童超重率性别差异均无统计学意义;除4~6岁组儿童肥胖率性别差异有统计学意义外,其余年龄组肥胖率性别间差异均无统计学意义.与2005年全国同年龄段儿童相比,西安市2岁和4~7岁儿童超重率均低于全国水平,<1岁和1岁组肥胖率高于全国水平,而西安市0~6岁儿童总体超重率低于全国水平,总肥胖率高于全国水平(P值均<0.05).5 498名男童超重率为18.3%(1 008名),肥胖率为8.9%(491名);4 876名女童超重率为15.2%(742名),肥胖率为7.3%(358名),男童均高于女童(x2值分别为17.898,8.677,P值均<0.01).西安市男童超重率、女童超重率均低于全国水平(P值均<0.01),西安市男童肥胖率与全国水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 西安市城区0~6岁儿童超重、肥胖率处于较高水平,制定预防儿童超重/肥胖的有效干预措施势在必行.     

昆山市公办托幼机构3~7岁儿童肥胖现况

了解昆山市公办托幼机构3~7岁儿童肥胖状况,为制定儿童保健的工作目标及完善工作措施提供依据.方法 对2012年昆山市公办幼托机构体检资料,采用Excel建立数据库,使用统计软件SAS 9.1进行分析.结果 儿童总超重检出率为16.00%,男童以6~7岁组检出率最高,达17.41%;女童以3~4岁组最高,达16.86%,女童总超重检出率(16.48%)略高于男童(15.58%) (x2 =3.57,P>O.05).儿童总肥胖率为6.40%,男童为7.20%,女童为5.49%,差异有统计学意义(x2=28.53,P<0.01).男、女童均以轻度肥胖为主,占57.55%,检出率分别为3.84%,3.51%,差异无统计学意义(x2=1.86,P>0.05);男童中、重度肥胖检出率分别为2.79%,0.56%,均高于女童(x2值分别为31.83,9.99,P值均<0.01),男、女童各肥胖度检出率均有随年龄增加而升高的趋势.结论 昆山市公办托幼机构3~7岁儿童超重、肥胖营养问题突出,呈现出男童高于女童、高年龄组高于低年龄组、重度肥胖构成比随年龄逐渐增高等特点.     

宁波地区7岁以下儿童超重和单纯性肥胖调查及三种筛查方法比较研究

目的 了解宁波地区7岁以下儿童单纯性肥胖发生情况,探讨BMI不同参照标准在儿童超重、肥胖筛查的应用.方法 随机整群抽样调查64 038名儿童的身高、体重,按WHO 2006年推荐的身高标准体重值,体重达身高标准体重≥10%为超重、≥20%为肥胖,剔除伴肥胖的遗传性疾病和内分泌疾病.并分别采用WHO与国际肥胖工作组(IOTF)推荐的超重、肥胖BMI参照值对同一人群计算超重、肥胖检出率.结果 按WHO身高标准体重值宁波市7岁以下儿童超重和单纯性肥胖检出率分别为4.25%和2.88%,其中男童分别为4.45%和3.01%,女童分别为3.86%和2.56%,男童与女童的超重和肥胖检出率差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).儿童超重和肥胖检出率随年龄增长而逐渐上升,6岁时男童分别达到11.84%和9.68%、女童分别达到10.14%和9.46%.不同年龄组和性别超重/肥胖比在1.15～1.94:1之间.调查人群BMI的P85、P95均低于WHO与IOTF标准中"超重"、"肥胖"的BMI判断界值,使用WHO与IOTF推荐的BMI参照值宁波市7岁以下儿童超重、肥胖检出率分别为9.72%、2.83%和6.11%、0.55%.结论 儿童早期是预防日后肥胖的关键时期,男童是预防和控制肥胖发生、发展的重点人群,应将预防和控制儿童肥胖工作列入儿童保健服务之中,建议尽快建立适合中国7岁以下儿童超重、肥胖筛查的BMI参考值.     

2015年乌鲁木齐市7岁以下维吾尔族和汉族儿童体格发育及脂肪重聚年龄

目的了解乌鲁木齐市7岁以下维吾尔族和汉族儿童体格发育情况,并计算脂肪重聚发生年龄。方法通过分层整群抽样的方法,于2015年6月抽取乌鲁木齐市7个区、1个县7岁以下9682名维汉(维吾尔族)儿童(男童5139人,女童4543人,汉族6152人,维族3530人),测量其身高、体重、坐高、头围、胸围,比较维汉民族男女童身高别体重(weight for height Z-score,WHZ)的差异,绘制维汉男女童WHZ曲线并通过双变量随机模型和自然增长模型推算维汉男女童脂肪重聚年龄并进行比较。结果不同年龄组的维汉男女童比较发现,低年龄组体格发育差异较为显著,并且在婴幼儿期各项体格发育指标均高于高年龄组儿童;在维、汉男童WHZ比较中,0月~(t=4.277,P<0.001)、6月~(t=2.133,P=0.033)、5岁~(t=2.278,P=0.023)、6~7岁(t=2.503,P=0.013)及各段合计组(t=5.238,P<0.001)差异均有统计学意义,维、汉女童WHZ比较中,0月~(t=2.533,P=0.011)和1岁~组(t=-2.141,P=0.033)差异有统计学意义。7岁以下维、汉男童超重和肥胖总体检出率高于女童(超重率:维族男童7.97%,女童5.46%,汉族男童12.55%,女童5.90%;肥胖率:维族男童5.58%,女童3.48%,汉族男童7.73%,女童3.92%),而维族女童超重-肥胖比(OOR=1.57)高于男童(OOR=1.43),汉族女童超重-肥胖比(OOR=1.50)低于男童(OOR=1.62)。经数学模型计算汉族男童脂肪重聚发生最早[3.94(95%CI 3.54~4.33)岁],其次为维族男童[4.17(95%CI 2.70~5.72)岁]和汉族女童[4.56(95%CI 4.14~4.99)岁],维族女童脂肪重聚发生最迟[5.57(95%CI 4.00~7.13)岁]。结论 2015年乌鲁木齐市7岁以下汉族儿童超重和肥胖发生率均高于维族儿童,且汉族儿童脂肪重聚年龄早于维吾尔族儿童。     

徐州市0~7岁儿童身高、体重与体质指数研究

目的:对比世界通用的一些标准,建立徐州市0~7岁儿童年龄别身高(HFA)、年龄别体重(WFA)及年龄别体质指数(BM I)百分位标准及体质指数超重和肥胖界值点。方法:①采用分层整群随机抽样法,收集徐州市0~7岁儿童11 747例的性别、出生年月及2002~2004年身高和体重测量资料。②应用LMS方法建立徐州市0~7岁儿童HFA、WFA和BM I百分位曲线。结果:①运用LMS软件,分别获得0~7岁男女童HFA、WFA和BM I百分位曲线各9条,为P3、P5、P10、P25、P50、P75、P90、P95和P97。②徐州市男女童的身高随年龄不断增加,男童到6岁以后逐渐减缓,女童5岁后逐渐减缓。徐州市男女童的身高在7岁之前均大于WHO标准。③徐州市男女童的体重随年龄不断增加,到6岁以后均逐渐减缓。徐州市男女童体重7岁之前均高于WHO标准。④根据国际肥胖工作小组制定的7岁男女儿童肥胖和超重界值点,徐州市男女童7岁时通过该界值点的BM I百分位分别为:男童第72.6和第92.6,女童第82.1和第96.5。7岁男女童的超重流行率分别为27.4%和17.9%,肥胖流行率分别为7.4%和3.5%,在性别上存在差异。结论:应用LMS软件,获得了徐州市0~7岁儿童身高、体重和BM I百分位参考值。     

扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围特征及影响因素分析

目的 研究扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围特征,并分析其影响因素,为我国学龄前儿童腹型超重/肥胖筛查与防治提供依据。方法 于2015年4-5月分层整群抽取7所幼儿园2 531名儿童,对家长进行问卷调查;采用集中体检的方式,测量儿童体重、身高、腰围等;对其腰围和腰围身高比进行描述性分析,并通过单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析腰围的影响因素。结果 扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围随年龄增长逐渐增加,各年龄组男童均大于女童;女童腰围身高比随年龄增长逐渐减低,男童则有波动。单因素分析结果显示,父母体重指数(BMI)、母亲学历、儿童每日睡眠时间、户外活动时间、视屏时间等对儿童腰围有影响(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,父母高BMI是学龄前儿童高腹围的危险因素(母亲BMI:OR=1.15,95%CI:1.09~1.18,P＜0.001;父亲BMI:OR=1.12,95%CI:1.07~1.15,P＜0.001)。结论 需逐步建立我国学龄前儿童腰围正常范围与腹型超重/肥胖腰围筛查界值点,为学龄前儿童腹型超重/肥胖筛查与防治提供依据;要控制腹型肥胖需进行以家庭为中心的饮食、生活方式的综合性干预。     

瑞安市儿童超重和肥胖与血压的相关性分析

目的探讨7~12岁儿童超重和肥胖与血压的关系,为心血管疾病的早期预防提供参考依据。方法测量瑞安市92所小学60 120名儿童的身高、体重和血压,分析儿童超重、肥胖与血压的关系。结果 60 120名儿童中男童31 160人(51.83%),女童28 960人(48.17%)。儿童总超重率为16.37%,男童和女童超重率分别为22.24%和10.22%;总肥胖率为6.42%,男童和女童肥胖率分别为9.11%和3.53%。男童超重和肥胖率均高于女童(P0.01)。受检儿童的血压偏高率为6.63%,其中男童8.79%,女童4.31%,男童血压偏高率高于女童(P0.01)。随年龄增加,血压偏高率呈上升趋势(P0.05)。儿童超重和肥胖与血压相关,随体重增加血压偏高率呈上升趋势(P0.05)。结论超重和肥胖对儿童血压升高有影响,控制超重和肥胖是减少儿童高血压的重要措施。     

鄂伦春族聚居区小学生2013—2018年体格发育监测

  目的  了解2013—2018年鄂伦春聚居区鄂伦春自治旗实验小学7~12岁儿童身体体格发育情况,为开展体质与健康工作提供科学依据。  方法  根据《国家学生体质健康标准(2014年修订版)》和2018年由国家卫生和计划生育委员会发布的“学龄儿童青少年超重与肥胖筛查”标准,分析鄂伦春自治旗实验小学7~12岁儿童近6年身高、体重和体质量指数(BMI)均值及增长率。  结果  2013—2018年7~12岁男女童的身高和体重均呈现增长趋势,身高增长值男童分别为1.8,1.7,1.9,2.6,5.7,5.9 cm,女童分别为2.8,4.5,1.9,1.8,3.6,2.9 cm;体重增长值男童分别为2.2,2.5,5.1,6.3,6.4,7.2 kg,女童分别为2.4,3.6,3.1,1.3,4.6,3.0 kg。其中7~8岁女童增长率高于男童,9~12岁男童增长率高于女童。随着年龄增加,7~12岁男女童BMI均值均呈现上升趋势,同年龄男童BMI始终高于女童。其中,2018年7~12岁男童BMI均值均超过超重的临界值。  结论  鄂伦春族7~12岁儿童的身体形态随着年龄增加而增加,但发展趋向于超重肥胖。     

Central adiposity in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 7-10 years

Waist circumference (WC) is a measure of central adiposity related to elevated risk factor levels in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to describe WC percentiles in 7- to 10-year-old Brazilian children and to compare frequencies of obesity and overweight as defined by BMI and frequencies of excess and at risk of abdominal adiposity as defined by WC to the corresponding age and sex data from British references. A representative sample of 2919 schoolchildren of the city of Florianopolis (southern Brazil) was examined. Smoothed WC percentiles were derived using the least mean square method. Frequencies of overweight and obesity and of excess and at risk of abdominal adiposity were assessed using the 91st and 98th centiles of the British references as cut-off points. WC increased with age in both boys and girls, with higher values for boys at every age and percentile level. Nutritional status categories of children assessed by the 91st and 98th British BMI and WC centiles showed moderate agreement (weighted kappa = 0.58). Overweight was more frequent in Brazilian than British children: 15.1 % of girls and 20.1 % of boys were above the 91st percentile of the 1990 BMI for age British references. About one-quarter (22.0 % of girls and 26.9 % of boys) exceeded the 91st percentile of WC British references. The present data could be used to compare WC in children in other populations and may serve as a baseline for future studies of temporal trends in WC in Brazil.     

Association between overweight or obesity and household income and parental body mass index in Australian youth: analysis of the Australian National Nutrition Survey, 1995

This study is a secondary data analysis based on the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey (NNS). A random subsample of 1581 school children aged 7-15 years old from the NNS was studied. The results show the prevalence of overweight, obesity and combined overweight and obesity was 10.6-20.9%, 3.7-7.2% and 15.6-25.7%, respectively. The odds ratio of overweight or obese boys with highest household income was significantly smaller than those with the lowest household income. The proportion of combined overweight and obesity in children whose parents were overweight or obese was significantly greater compared with those whose parents were not. The trend of increasing prevalence of overweight or obesity among children with increasing parental body mass index (BMI) was significant after adjusting for age except the trend of father's BMI for boys. This study provided baseline data on the recent prevalence of overweight or obesity of Australian school children using new international absolute BMI cut-off points. It indicated that young school girls (7-9 years) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with boys, the prevalence rates of overweight or obesity in older boys (13-15 year) was significantly greater than in other age groups while in girls it was the opposite. The boys with lowest household income ($0-17 500) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with those with the highest household income (greater than $67 500). Having parents especially mothers who were overweight or obese may increase the risk of children being overweight or obese.     

中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重和肥胖筛查体重指数界值点的研究

目的 研究中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查体重指数(BMI)界值点.方法 在中国0～18岁儿童青少年BMI生长参照值的基础上,根据常用的超重、肥胖筛查界值点选择方法(与成年人界值点接轨法、百分位法或Z分值法),初步分别确定[BMI 24kg/m2 (BMI24)、28 kg/m2(BMI28)]、(P85、P95)和(Z1、Z2)三组界值点,通过对不同界值点进行差值和检出率比较,并与中国肥胖问题工作组(WGOC)和国际肥胖问题工作组(IOTF)的超重、肥胖界值点做对比分析,最后确定适宜界值点.结果 按照不同的超重、肥胖筛查BMI界值点选择方法获得三组界值点,不同界值点之间存在不同程度差异,但在超重合并肥胖检出率上差异相对较小.与WGOC相比,男章超重、肥胖及女童肥胖界值点非常接近,女童在8.5～15.5岁其超重界值点比WGOC标准低0.3～1.0 kg/m2,通过筛查"2004年北京市儿童代谢综合征调查"数据库,女童超重检出率比WGOC标准高约3.4%.结论 采用与成年人界值点接轨法(BMI24、BMI28)获得的中国2～18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查BMI界值点是适宜的,实现了在使用BMI指标上年龄的连贯性和筛查标准的一致性.     

Overweight children in Beirut: prevalence estimates and characteristics

OBJECTIVE: To estimate, for the first time, overweight prevalence and associated characteristics in a representative sample of prepubertal children in Beirut, Lebanon's capital. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with a home interview including measurements of weight and height and a structured questionnaire. SUBJECTS: A total of 234 children aged 6-8 years in Beirut: 131 boys, 103 girls. METHODS: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was based on the international cut-off points for body mass index (BMI) by age and gender proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. The characteristics of overweight examined were: age, gender, household and family size, single- vs. two-parent family, parents' level of education and profession, physical activity and dietary intake of children. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 26% and 7% respectively in boys, 25% and 6% in girls. Overweight was significantly associated with low physical activity (P < 0.05) and mother's BMI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a high proportion of overweight in 6- to 8-year-old children in Beirut. Reduced physical activity was the most significant factor associated with childhood overweight. Further studies in different regions in Lebanon are necessary to identify national characteristics; prevention efforts will be designed accordingly.     

Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Denmark

AIM: To study the current prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Denmark from 1995 to 2000-2002. METHODS: Cross-sectional national dietary surveys were conducted in 1995 and 2000-2002. The analysis was based on two random population samples from the Danish civil registration system. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight for 1,026 and 1,152 children and adolescents (4-18 years), who participated in 1995 and 2000-2002, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was defined according to the international age and gender-specific child BMI cut-off points. In the statistical analysis, overweight and obesity were included in the prevalence of overweight. RESULTS: Mean BMI increased significantly between 1995 and 2000-2002 for all combinations of age groups (4-6, 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 years) and genders. Prevalence of overweight increased between survey years for boys and girls for all age groups (4-6, 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 years), although formal statistical significance was not reached (p>0.05). When all children and adolescents (4-18 years) were analysed, the prevalence of overweight rose significantly from 10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.0-12.8) to 14.4% (95% CI 12.5-16.3) between 1995 and 2000- 2002 (p=0.01), whereas the increase in the prevalence of obesity did not reach significance (1995, 2.3% (95% CI 1.3-3.3) vs. 2000-2002, 2.4% (95% CI 1.6-3.3); p=0.74). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed a significant increase from 1995 to 2000-2002 in mean BMI for boys and girls for all age groups and a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight when all Danish children and adolescents (4-18 years) were analysed.     

乌鲁木齐市维吾尔族和汉族7～18岁人群体重指数分类标准比较

目的探讨使用偏度-中位数-变异系数法（LMS法）建立并比较乌鲁木齐市7～18岁维吾尔族（维族）和汉族青少年超重、肥胖的体重指数（BMI）分类标准。方法采用分层整群抽样方法，调查新疆乌鲁木齐市7～18岁维、汉族中小学生9146人，绘制两民族7～18岁青少年年龄别、性别BMI百分位曲线，确定18岁时分别通过国际肥胖工作组（IOTF）和中国肥胖问题工作组（WGOC）成年人超重、肥胖标准的特殊百分位数曲线，由此获得两民族7～18岁人群超重和肥胖的界值标准。结果18岁时通过25及30kg／m^2的百分位曲线：维族男生为P94.46和P99.58，维族女生为P92.44和P99.64，汉族男生为P85.05和P97.26，汉族女生为P90.92和P99.03；通过24及28kg／m^2的百分位曲线维族男生为P90.54和P98.86，维族女生为P86.96和P98.77，汉族男生为P78.98和P94.72，汉族女生为P86.15和P97.56。结论BMI分布具有民族特异性；对维族青少年超重、肥胖筛检时建议参考使用该研究标准。     

Obesity in a cohort of black Jamaican children as estimated by BMI and other indices of adiposity

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships of body mass index (BMI) to obesity indices derived from anthropometry and to determine tracking of overweight between late childhood and early adolescence, in a cohort of children with mixed nutritional history. We also compared identification of overweight children using The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) BMI cut-off points with skinfolds. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Kingston, Jamaica. SUBJECTS: A total of 306 children examined at 7-8 y and at 11-12 y. MEASUREMENTS: Triceps (TSF) and subscapular skinfolds (SSF), height and weight were measured. The sum of the skinfolds (sum SF), BMI, percentage body fat (%fat) and fat mass (FM) were calculated. Pubertal stage was assessed at 11-12 y. RESULTS: Overweight increased from 3.5 to 9.5% over the follow-up period. BMI was better correlated with the other indices of adiposity in girls and in the older age group. BMI tracking over follow up was high. In regression analysis BMI explained 52 and 61% of the variance in FM in boys and girls at 7-8 y. This increased to 69% in both sexes at 11-12 y. Using the IOTF cut-off points BMI had low sensitivity to identify children >85th percentile of the NHANES references for SSF. The sensitivity for those assessed by TSF and sum SF was higher, but between 14 and 30% of the children were misclassified. The specificity of BMI was high. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity increased over follow-up. Although the cohort remained relatively lean BMI rank among the fattest children was maintained. Girls were fatter than boys, reflecting adult obesity patterns. Children identified as overweight by the IOTF BMI cut-off points are likely to have high body fatness. However the BMI cut-off points may not identify many children with high body fatness.     

Evaluation of waist circumference to predict general obesity and arterial hypertension in women in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte,Brazil

This study examined the capacity of waist circumference (WC) to identify subjects with overweight (BMI >/=25) and obesity (BMI >/=30), in agreement with internationally recommended levels of action. Data were obtained from 791 women, 15-59 years old. After identifying overweight and obesity according to WC values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to verify whether WC could be a good risk predictor for hypertension. Associations were tested by linear regression and logistic regression, controlling for confounding. WC cut-off points of 80cm and 88cm correctly identified 89.8% and 88.5% of women with overweight and obesity, respectively. Abdominal obesity (WC >/=88cm) was statistically associated with hypertension in the multivariate analysis (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.77-4.67). Hypertension was identified with a sensitivity of 63.8% and 42.8%, and with a specificity of 68.0% and 83.3%, for WC >/=80 and >/=88, respectively. The proposed cut-off points for abdominal obesity can potentially distinguish individuals at risk for future obesity, but has only moderate power to predict individuals with high blood pressure.