Body Mass Index,Waist-circumference and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Iranian Adults: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

Considering the main effect of obesity on chronic non-communicable diseases, this study was performed to assess the association between body mass index (BMI), waist-circumference (WC), cardiometabolic risk factors and to corroborate whether either or both BMI and WC are independently associated with the risk factors in a sample of Iranian adults. This cross-sectional study was performed on data from baseline survey of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP). The study was done on 12,514 randomly-selected adults in Isfahan, Najafabad and Arak counties in 2000-2001. Ages of the subjects were recorded. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour post-load glucose (2hpp), serum lipids, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), BMI, WC, smoking status, and total daily physical activity were determined. Increase in BMI and WC had a significant positive relation with the mean of FBG, 2hpp, SBP, DBP, serum lipids, except for HDL-C (p<0.001 for all). After adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity, socioeconomic status (SES), and BMI, the highest odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) for diabetes mellitus (DM) according to WC was 3.13 (1.93-5.08) and 1.99 (1.15-3.44) in women and men respectively. Moreover, the highest ORs based on BMI with adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity, SES, and WC were for dyslipidaemia (DLP) [1.97 (1.58-2.45) in women and 2.96 (2.41-3.63) in men]. The use of BMI or WC alone in the models caused to enhance all ORs. When both BMI and WC were entered in the model, the ORs for all risk factors, in men, according to BMI, were more compared to WC. However, in women, ORs for DM and hypertension (HTN) in WC quartiles were more than in BMI quartiles. BMI is the better predictor of DM, HTN, and DLP in men compared to WC. Conversely, in women, WC is a superior predictor than BMI, particularly for DM and HTN. Furthermore, the measurement of both WC and BMI in Iranian adults may be a better predictor of traditional risk factors of CVDs compared to BMI or WC alone.Key words: Body mass index, Diabetes mellitus, Dyslipidaemia, Hypertension, Obesity, Risk Factor, Waist-circumference, Iran     

Measures of adiposity in the identification of metabolic abnormalities in elderly men

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) is considered a poor indicator of overall and abdominal obesity in the elderly. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to determine which simple anthropometric measurements [BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), percentage body fat (%BF), or fat mass (FM)] are most closely associated with metabolic risk factors and insulin resistance in elderly men. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 2924 men aged 60-79 y with no history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or diabetes who were drawn from general practices in 24 British towns. RESULTS: BMI and WC were the measures most strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome (>/=3 of the following: hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, high triacylglycerols, or high blood glucose) and insulin resistance. For a 1-SD increase in BMI, WC, WHR, %BF, and FM, the odds ratios (95% CIs) of having the metabolic syndrome after adjustment for age, socioeconomic status, smoking status, and physical activity were as follows: BMI, 1.61 (1.44, 1.79); WC, 1.65 (1.48, 1.81); WHR, 1.49 (1.34, 1.66); %BF, 1.41 (1.25, 1.59); and FM, 1.53 (1.38, 1.70). For insulin resistance, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were as follows: 2.48 (2.22, 2.77), 2.46 (2.19, 2.65), 1.75 (1.59, 1.93), 1.79 (1.60, 2.00), and 2.10 (1.88, 2.34), respectively. In normal-weight (BMI < 25) and overweight (BMI 25-29.9) men, the presence of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance increased with increasing WC; this did not occur in obese men. CONCLUSIONS: BMI and WC are the simple measures of adiposity most strongly associated with metabolic abnormalities in elderly men. Our findings suggest that WC can be used as a complementary measurement to identify health risks in normal-weight and overweight elderly persons.     

Waist circumference and obesity-associated risk factors among whites in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: clinical action thresholds

BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) is strongly linked to obesity-associated risks. However, currently proposed WC risk thresholds are not based on associations with obesity-related risk factors but rather with body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the relations of WC to obesity-associated risk factors in a representative sample of US whites and to derive comparable risk thresholds for WC and BMI. DESIGN: Data on 9019 white participants of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of >or= 1 of 4 obesity-associated risk factors: low HDL cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high glucose. Odds ratio (OR) equations were derived from logistic regression models for WC and BMI with the use of the 25th percentile in the study population as the reference. Receiver operating characteristic curves for identifying risk factors were computed for WC and BMI. RESULTS: At BMIs of 25 and 30, ORs were 1.19 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.35) and 2.37 (95% CI: 1.33, 4.22) for men and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.29, 1.91) and 3.16 (95% CI: 1.94, 5.28) for women, respectively. The corresponding ORs for WC were at 90 and 100 cm for men and at 83 and 93 cm for women. Minima on the receiver operating characteristic curves for men were at 96 cm for WC and at 26 for BMI and for women were at 86 cm for WC and 25 for BMI. CONCLUSION: WC is more closely linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors than is BMI.     

江苏省成人脂质蓄积指数与高血压和糖尿病患病风险关系的研究

目的 探讨成人脂质蓄积指数（lipid accumulation product,LAP）与高血压、糖尿病患病风险的关系。方法 利用江苏省2013年成人慢性病及其危险因素监测数据进行分析,采用方差分析和多因素Logistic回归模型研究LAP与血压、血糖、高血压和糖尿病患病风险的关系,利用受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristics,ROC）曲线评估LAP、体重指数（body mass index,BMI）和腰围（waist circumference,WC）对高血压、糖尿病罹患风险的预测作用。结果 不同LAP组间血压、血糖水平差异均有统计学意义（均有P<0.05）。男性和女性的高血压、糖尿病患病风险均随着LAP水平升高而增加（均有P<0.05）,与低LAP水平组相比,男性和女性高LAP水平组的高血压患病风险分别增加3.65倍（95%CI:3.74~5.78）和3.52倍（95%CI:3.70~5.53）,糖尿病患病风险分别增加2.71倍（95%CI:2.83~4.87）和3.37倍（95%CI:3.32~5.77）。在女性中,ROC曲线分析显示,LAP预测高血压和糖尿病风险的曲线下面积（area under curve,AUC）值为0.70和0.69,均高于BMI和WC（均有P<0.05）。结论 LAP与血压、血糖密切相关,高血压、糖尿病患病风险随着LAP的增加而升高。     

Relationship of total and abdominal adiposity with CRP and IL-6 in women

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between different measures of adiposity as predictors of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 733 women free from preexisting cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Total adiposity, as measured by body mass index (BMI). Abdominal adiposity, as measured by waist circumference (WC) and waist/hip ratio (WHR). High sensitivity CRP levels and IL-6 levels. RESULTS: BMI, WHR, and WC were all significantly correlated with CRP and IL-6, throughout the anthropometric spectrum. After adjustment for risk factors, the odds ratios (ORs) were 12.2 (95% CI, 6.44-23.0) for elevated CRP (>/=75th percentile) and 4.13 (95% CI, 2.37-7.18) for elevated IL-6 (>/=75th percentile) in comparisons of extreme BMI quartiles. Among women in the highest WC quartile, the OR for elevated CRP and IL-6 were 8.57 (95% CI, 4.59-16.0) and 4.40 (95%CI, 2.46-7.89), while ORs for the highest WHR quartile were 2.88 (95% CI, 1.60-5.19) and 1.76 (95% CI, 1.03-3.01), respectively. Compared with lean nonusers, women in the highest BMI quartile who did not use hormone therapy (HT) had an OR for elevated CRP of 7.79 (95% CI, 2.08-29.2) vs. 31.6 (95% CI, 7.97-125.6) for current hormone users. CONCLUSIONS: Indices of both total and abdominal adiposity were strongly associated with significant increased levels of CRP and IL-6. This association was evident across the entire spectrum of BMI.     

Accuracy of anthropometric measurements in estimating fat mass in individuals with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

ObjectiveThe use of anthropometric measurements to estimate the percentage of body fat (%BF) is easy and inexpensive. However, the accuracy of these methods in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) has not been explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of skinfold-based models, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) in estimations of %BF using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the reference method in individuals with 21OHD.MethodsFifty-four 21OHD patients (32 women and 22 men), aged 7 to 20 y, were recruited for the study. DXA was used to determine %BF; four predictive skinfold equations, BMI, and WC were assessed for accuracy in determining %BF.ResultsAll predictive skinfold equations were highly associated (R, range: 0.82-0.89) with DXA %BF values. In women, BMI and WC showed moderate correlations (R = 0.69 for both BMI and WC) with DXA values. In contrast, among men there was a low explanatory power for BMI (13%) and WC (4%) and high errors (BMI, 6.9%; WC, 7.4%). All predictive equations significantly underestimated %BF (range of differences, ?4.1 to ?8.9) compared with DXA (women, 31.3 ± 6.1; men, 24.4 ± 7.3), and large limits of agreement were observed (range, ?15.3 to 1.7 and ?15.5 to 4.2 for women and men, respectively).ConclusionIn children and adolescents with 21OHD, %BF as estimated by skinfold measurements was associated more strongly with DXA-assessed %BF than both BMI and WC. However, still, the skinfold-based assessment underestimated DXA %BF and showed moderate agreement.     

中国成年人体质指数和腰围与高血压关系的四年随访研究

目的探讨中国成年人体质指数(BMI)和腰围(WC)的增加与高血压发病危险的关系。方法利用“中国居民健康与营养调查”资料,以4552例18~60岁参加2000年调查、当时无高血压等慢性病并且2004年调查被随访到者为研究对象,考察基线BMI和WC对高血压的预测作用,以及BMI和WC4年间的变化与高血压发病之间的关系。结果男性和女性随访4年高血压发病率分别为20.01%和13.52%。随着基线肥胖程度的增加,高血压的发病危险增加。与BMI和WC均不肥胖者相比,BMI超重/肥胖并且WC肥胖者发生高血压的危险最高(男性,RR=2.840,95%CI:2.139~3.771;女性,RR=2.734,95%CI:2.050~3.647)。调整了其它协变量后,4年中BMI每增加一个单位,男性和女性患高血压的危险分别增加0.141和0.109倍;WC每增加1cm,男性和女性患高血压的危险分别增加0.038和0.035倍。结论体质指数和腰围的增加均能增加高血压发病的危险,体质指数和腰围联合使用可增强对高血压发病的预测作用。     

Predictive values of waist circumference for dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and hypertension in overweight White, Black, and Hispanic American adults

Waist circumferences (WC) >/=102 cm for men and >/=88 cm for women have been proposed by an expert panel as cut-points for identifying increased risk for the development of obesity comorbidities for most adults. The aim of this investigation was to examine the predictive values of these WC cut-points for hypercholesterolemia, low concentration of high (HDL-C), and high concentration of low (LDL-C) density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in overweight American adults. Data from NHANES III were utilized for the analysis. Predictive abilities were determined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive (PV+) and negative (PV-) predictive values in overweight subjects with BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2). Sensitivity of WC cut-point was stronger for high LDL-C compared to other risk factors with the highest values recorded in the 40-59 and 60-69 year age groups in men and women, respectively. PV+ of WC cut-points for dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension were low in men compared to women. PV+ tended to increase with age, from 19-39, 40-59 to 60-90 year age groups in Whites, Blacks, and Hispanic men. In men, the highest PV+ were recorded for hypertriglyceridemia in the 60-90 years old groups, with values of 71.6%, 52.5%, and 43.3% in Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, respectively. The CVD risk factor associated with the highest PV+ in women was diabetes with values of 97.2% in Whites and 88.9% in Blacks, and hypertriglyceridemia with a value of 93.8% in the 17-39 year age group in Hispanics. Among Black men 40-59 years of age, only 32% of a population of overweight hypertensives were detected by the WC cut-points, and among Black women, 40-59 years of age, only 54% were detected. Given the low sensitivity of these cut-points for detecting hypertension, one of the major co-morbidities of obesity, these cut-points failed to provide adequate evidence for the use of WC in determining or evaluating patients as to co-morbid states. We recommend further studies to determine a set of specific cut-points associated with increased risk of CVD in different population groups.     

Percentage body fat ranges associated with metabolic syndrome risk: results based on the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994)

BACKGROUND: Increasing attention has focused on the association between body fatness and related metabolic risk factors. The quantitative link between percentage body fat (%BF) and the risk of metabolic syndrome is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to determine the risk [odds ratios (ORs)] of metabolic syndrome based on %BF in black and white men and women in the United States and to provide corresponding ranges of %BF associated with a risk equivalent to body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)). DESIGN: The subjects were participants in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and were divided into those with and without the metabolic syndrome. OR equations were derived from logistic regression models for %BF and BMI, with the 25th percentile in the study population as the reference. Ranges were developed by associating %BF with the equivalent risk of metabolic syndrome based on established BMI cutoffs. RESULTS: Four sets (men, women, black, and white) of OR curves were generated for %BF and for BMI by using data from 8259 adults. The ORs for metabolic syndrome were lower in blacks than in whites at any given %BF or BMI. The developed cutoffs for %BF differed between men and women but showed only small race and age effects. A simplified set of sex-specific %BF ranges for the risk of metabolic syndrome were developed. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of metabolic syndrome can be established from measured %BF by using either the developed OR curves or %BF thresholds at traditional BMI cutoffs. This information should prove useful in both clinical and research settings.     

儿童高尿酸血症与心血管代谢异常发生风险

目的了解儿童高尿酸血症与心血管代谢异常发生风险的关系。方法研究对象来自“儿童青少年心血管与骨健康促进项目”,该项目于2017年采用分层整群抽样的方法对北京市15391名6~16岁儿童开展基线调查,并于2019年进行随访调查。采用多因素logistic模型分析基线尿酸水平及高尿酸持续状态与高血压、高血糖、血脂异常等心血管代谢异常发生风险的关系。结果共8807名研究对象(男童4376名,女童4431名)纳入本研究,基线年龄(11.1±3.3)岁。调整混杂因素后,尿酸第三、四分位发生高血压的风险是第一分位的1.39倍(95%CI:1.11~1.75)和1.56倍(95%CI:1.19~1.81),尿酸第二、三、四分位发生高LDL-C的风险是第一分位的1.88倍(95%CI:1.16~3.05)、1.98倍(95%CI:1.23~3.17)和2.25倍(95%CI:1.42~3.57);尿酸水平每增加1个标准差,高血压和高LDL-C发生风险分别增加17%(OR=1.17,95%CI:1.97~1.27)和27%(OR=1.27,95%CI:1.11~1.45);尿酸水平每增加10μmol/L,高血压和高LDL-C的发生风险分别增加2.1%(OR=1.021,95%CI:1.011~1.030)和2.9%(OR=1.029,95%CI:1.013~1.046);按性别分层分析,男女童之间结果基本一致。调整混杂因素后,高尿酸血症新发组和持续异常组高血压的发生风险是持续正常组的1.32倍(95%CI:1.09~1.60)和1.50倍(95%CI:1.05~2.16),高TC的发生风险是持续正常组的1.90倍(95%CI:1.38~2.60)和2.96倍(95%CI:1.58~5.52),高LDL-C的发生风险是持续正常组的1.78倍(95%CI:1.26~2.51)和2.84倍(95%CI:1.60~5.03)。结论儿童高尿酸水平及持续高尿酸血症,可增加高血压、高TC及高LDL-C的发生风险。保持正常尿酸水平有助于心血管疾病的早期预防。     

Waist circumference, body mass index, hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as predictors of cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal people

OBJECTIVE: To investigate waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, hip circumference and body mass index (BMI) as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal Australians. METHODS: This cohort study included 836 adults aged 20-74 y in a remote Aboriginal community. WC, waist-hip ratio, hip circumference and BMI were obtained from a screening program. The participants were followed for up to 10 y for cardiovascular events. A Cox regression model was used to calculate the rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the first-ever cardiovascular event (fatal and nonfatal). RESULTS: RRs for the first-ever cardiovascular event were 1.31 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.54), 1.29 (95% CI: 1.09,1.53), 1.28 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.52) and 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.30) per standard deviation increase in WC, BMI, hip circumference and waist-hip ratio, respectively, after adjustment for diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking status. WC, BMI and hip circumference were significantly associated with cardiovascular risk, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. Dividing each of the four parameters into quartiles, WC had the highest likelihood statistics (12.76) followed by BMI (11.45), hip circumference (10.57) and waist-hip ratio (3.15) for predicting first CV events. CONCLUSION: WC, BMI and hip circumference are associated with cardiovascular outcome, independent of traditional risk factors. However, WC appears to be a better predictor for cardiovascular risk than other parameters. Waist-hip ratio is not as useful as other measurements.     

不同体重指数和腰围人群的血压均值及高血压患病率调查

目的：探讨体重指数(BMI和腰围(WC)对人群血压水平和高血压患病率的影响。方法：对1992—1994年和1998年在中国不同地区男女性中年人群中进行的两次心血管病危险因素调查资科合并共35 003人，比较不同BMI和WC分组的平均血压水平及其高血压患病率。结果：随着BMI和／或WC的增加，人群血压水平、高血压患病率呈明显的上升趋势，在多数BMI组中，男女性WC与血压均值和高血压患病车间存在明显的线性相关关系(线性趋势检验P＜0．05)，同样在不同的WC组中，BMI均与血压均值和高血压患病车间存在明显的线性相关关系。男女性按不同BMI及WC标准分组的年龄调整高血压患病率分别为16．5％、14．1％(BMI＜24kg／m^2，男／女：WC＜85／80cm)，29．8％、20．6％(BMI＜24kg／m^2，男／女：WC≥85／80cm)，29．6％、24．7％(BMI：24．0—27．9kg／m^2，男／女：WC＜85／80cm)，39．2％、30．3％(BMI：24．0—27．9kg／m^2，男／女：WC≥85／80cm)，57．5％、43．3％(BMI≥28kg／m^2，男／女：WC≥85／80cm)。结论：BMI和WC均与人群血压有相互独立的关联，保持BMI和WC均在正常范围是预防高血压的有效措施。     

不同体重指数和腰围水平与其他心血管病危险因素聚集的关系

目的探讨不同体重指数(BMI)和腰围水平对人群中其他心血管病危险因素聚集的影响.方法将1992～1994年和1998年在我国不同地区中年人群中进行的2次心血管病危险因素调查资料合并共30 561人,比较不同BMI和腰围分组的研究对象其他心血管病危险因素聚集率和聚集的相对危险,其中危险因素聚集定义为同一研究对象具有高血压、高血清总胆固醇、低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇或空腹血糖异常之中的任意2项或2项以上者.结果随着BMI和(或)腰围的增加,人群其他心血管病危险因素的聚集率呈明显上升趋势, 按BMI分层各组中,男女两性腰围与其他心血管病危险因素的聚集率均呈明显的线性上升趋势,同样在不同的腰围分组中,BMI均与其他心血管病危险因素的聚集率呈明显的线性趋势.男性和女性年龄调整心血管病危险因素聚集率在BMI<24 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)<85/80 cm组分别为11.1%和10.4%,BMI<24 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)85～95.9/80～89.9 cm组分别为24.2%和16.9%, BMI 24.0～27.9 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)<85/80 cm组分别为24.0%和17.0%,BMI 24～27.9 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)85～95.9 /80～89.9 cm组分别为34.3%和24.0%. BMI 24.0～27.9 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)≥95/90 cm组分别为40.8%和29.6%,BMI≥28 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)85～95.9/80～89.9 cm组分别为44.2%和29.9%,BMI≥28 kg/m2、腰围(男/女)≥95/90 cm组分别为54.7%和35.4%.结论 BMI和腰围水平均与其他心血管病危险因素的聚集有独立的正相关性.保持BMI和腰围均在正常范围对心血管健康是很重要的.     

Prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity and its impacts on incidences of hypertension, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Taiwan

Obesity is an epidemic health problem related to morbidity and mortality of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known regarding the development of cardiometabolic diseases in an obese subgroup with a healthy metabolic risk profile. This study examined the prevalence of baseline metabolically healthy obese subjects and its impacts on the incidences of cardiometabolic diseases using a nation-wide population cohort. Metabolically healthy obese were prevalent in 8.2% of the baseline population and 28.5% of the obese subjects. Subjects included were 1,547 men and women (age range, 18-59 years), who were free of components of the metabolic syndrome except waist criteria. During an average 5.4-year follow-up, the cumulative incidences of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome were 7.8%, 1.2% and 5.6%, respectively. The hazard ratios (95% CIs) for the metabolic syndrome incidence were significantly higher at BMI levels of >=23.0 kg/m2 [4.68 (2.22-9.86)] for BMI of 23-24.9 kg/m2; 8.82 (4.01-19.4) for BMI of 25-26.9 kg/m2; and 24.43 (12.33-48.41) for BMI of >=27 kg/m2). The hazard ratios for diabetes or hypertension incidence were significantly higher at BMI levels of >=25.0 kg/m2. Each kg/m2 of BMI gained was associated with an 18% increase in the risk of developing hypertension and a 26% increase in risk for the metabolic syndrome. We conclude that metabolically healthy obese individuals are at higher risk to develop hypertension, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome than their non-obese counterparts. Our data provide further evidence that opposes the notion of metabolically healthy obese as harmless conditions.     

成人腰围、体重指数与高三酰甘油血症的关系

目的探讨体重指数（BMI）、腰围（WC）与三酰甘油水平之间的关系,并用受试者工作特征（ROC）凹线评价BMI和WC对诊断高三酰甘油血症的价值。方法以2008年7至9月在我院进行常规体检的1093人（男性707人、女性386人）为研究对象,检测身高、体重、腰围和血三酰甘油水平。比较三酰甘油正常组与异常组BMI和WC的差异。建立BMI和WC的ROC曲线,获得曲线下面积及曲线上各界值点的灵敏度和特异度。结果男女性三酰甘油异常率分别为33．5％和8．3％。三酰甘油异常者的BMI和WC明显大于三酰甘油正常者（P〈0．01）。以BMI诊断高三酰甘油血症的ROC曲线下面积：男性为0．728±0．041、女性为0．708±0．021,最佳界值点：男性为24．5、女性为22．5;以WC诊断高三酰甘油血症的ROC曲线下面积：男性为0．790±0．042,女性为0．714±0．020,最佳界值点：男性为86cm,女性为77cm。结论BMI和WC与三酰甘油水平均相关。BMI和WC是预测高三酰甘油血症较为理想的指标。     

Body mass index, waist circumference, and risk of coronary heart disease: a prospective study among men and women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the risk of CHD associated with excess weight measured by BMI and waist circumference (WC) in two large cohorts of men and women. DESIGN, SETTING, SUBJECTS: Participants in two prospective cohort studies, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (N = 27,859 men; age range 39-75 years) and the Nurses' Health Study (N = 41,534 women; 39-65 years) underwent 16-year follow-up through 2004. RESULTS: 1,823 incident cases of CHD among men and 1,173 cases among women were documented. Compared to men with BMI 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m2, those with a BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 had a multivariate-adjusted RR of CHD of 1.81 (95% CI 1.48 - 2.22). Among women, those with a BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 had a RR of CHD of 2.16 (95% CI 1.81 - 2.58). Compared to men with a WC < 84.0 cm, those with WC of greater than 102.0 cm had a RR of 2.25 (95% CI 1.77 - 2.84). Among women, the RR of CHD was 2.75 (95% CI 2.20 - 3.45) for those with WC of greater than 88.0 cm. CONCLUSIONS: In these analyses from two large ongoing prospective cohort studies, both BMI and WC strongly predicted future risk of CHD. Furthermore, WC thresholds as low as 84.0 cm in men and 71.0 cm in women may be useful in identifying those at increased risk of developing CHD. The findings have broad implications in terms of CHD risk assessment in both clinical practice and epidemiologic studies.     

Impact of obesity and body fat distribution on cardiovascular risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese

OBJECTIVE: Body fat distribution has been reported to differentially contribute to the development of cardiovascular risk. We report the relative associations between general and central obesity and risk factors in 2893 Chinese subjects recruited from the Hong Kong population. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Anthropometric parameters [waist circumference (WC) and BMI], surrogate measures of insulin resistance (fasting plasma glucose and insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, 2 hours glucose and insulin), fasting lipids (total, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. General obesity was classified as BMI > or =25.0 kg/m(2) and central obesity as a WC > or =80 or > or =90 cm in women and men, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 39.2% of the population was found to be obese. Obesity per se increased the levels of the risk factors, but central adiposity contributed to a greater extent to adverse high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin resistance levels. There was a continuous relationship between increasing obesity, both general and central, and cardiovascular risk, with lowest risk associated with the lowest indices of obesity. In the 1759 nonobese subjects divided into quartiles of BMI or WC, the levels of the cardiovascular risk factors still significantly increased with increasing quartiles of adiposity. DISCUSSION: Central adiposity appears to contribute to a greater extent than general adiposity to the development of cardiovascular risk in this population. The relationship between obesity parameters and risk is a continuum, with risk factors significantly increasing even at levels usually considered nonobese. These observations support the proposed redefinition of overweight and obesity in Asian populations using lower cut-off points.     

Defining obesity by body mass index in the Thai population: an epidemiologic study

The objective of this study was to develop cut-off values and evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI) in the definition of obesity in the Thai population. A cross-sectional, epidemiologic study in 340 men and 507 women aged 50 +/- 16 yr (mean +/- SD; range: 20-84 yr), were sampled by stratified clustering sampling method. Body composition, including percentage body fat (%BF), was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar Corp, Madison, WI). BMI was obtained by dividing weight (in kg) by height (in m2). The "golden standard "for defining obesity was %BF > or =25% in men and %BF > or =35% in women. The %BF-based prevalence of obesity in men and women was 18.8% and 39.5%, respectively. However, using the BMI cut-off of > or =30, only 2.9% of men and 8.9% of women were classified as obese. In the cubic regression model, BMI was a significant predictor of %BF, such that in men a BMI of 27 kg/m2 would predict a %BF of 25%, and in women a BMI of 25 kg/m2 would correspond to a %BF of 35%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for BMI was approximately 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82-0.92) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.90) in men and women, respectively. In conclusion, for the Thai population, BMI is a reasonably useful indicator of obesity; however, the cut-off values of BMI for diagnosing obesity should be lowered to 27 kg/m2 in men and 25 kg/m2 in women.     

Adiponectin represents an independent risk factor for hypertension in middle aged Korean women

Adiponectin, which is secreted specifically by adipose tissue, has been shown to act as an anti-atherosclerotic protein. Several studies have shown that adiponectin levels are lower in individuals with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The present study investigated relationships between serum adiponectin levels and body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure (BP) and lipid profiles in 300 middle-aged Korean women (mean age 50.6 +/- 6.2; BMI 25.78 +/- 3.68 kg/m(2)). The serum adiponectin level was positively associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (r = 0.29) and negatively associated with BMI, WHR, percent body fat, triglyceride (TG), systolic BP, and diastolic BP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increasing concentrations of adiponectin were associated with lower risk of hypertension. In overall odds ratios (95% CIs) for hypertension, those in the second, third, and fourth (versus the first) quartile of adiponectin after adjustment for age were 0.59 (0.297-1.185), 0.47 (0.236 - 0.938), and 0.32 (0.16 - 0.648), respectively. Regardless of BMI, WHR and percent body fat, higher adiponectin was independently associated with a lower risk of hypertension. These findings suggest that the serum adiponectin level is decreased with atherogenic lipid phenotype including hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol. Furthermore, low serum adiponectin concentration may be an independent risk factor for hypertension in middle-aged Korean women.     

BMI is strongly associated with hypertension, and waist circumference is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, in northern Chinese adults

Background

Obesity is closely associated with chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dyslipidemia. We analyzed the optimal obesity index cut-off values for metabolic syndrome (MetS), and identified the obesity index that is more closely associated with these chronic diseases, in a population of northern Chinese.

Methods

We surveyed 8940 adults (age, 20–74 years) living in northern China for chronic diseases. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, relative risk, and multivariate regression were used to develop an appropriate index and optimal cut-off values for MetS and obesity-related chronic diseases.

Results

Waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were good markers for MetS, WC was a good marker for T2DM and dyslipidemia, and BMI was a good marker for hypertension. The optimal BMI cut-off value of MetS was 24 kg/m², and the optimal WC cut-offs were 86 cm and 78 cm in men and women, respectively. Relative risk regression models showed that BMI was associated with hypertension, T2DM, and hypertriglyceridemia and a higher prevalence ratio (PR) for hypertension: 2.35 (95% CI, 2.18–2.50). WC was associated with T2DM, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia, with PRs of 2.05 (1.63–2.55) for T2DM and 2.47 (2.04–2.85) for hypertriglyceridemia. In multivariate regression models, the standardized regression coefficients (SRCs) of BMI were greater for SBP and DBP, and the SRC of WC was greater for fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postload blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol.

Conclusions

Our analysis of a population of northern Chinese indicates that the optimal cut-off values for MetS are WCs of 86 cm in men and 78 cm in women and a BMI of 24 kg/m² in both sexes. BMI was strongly associated with hypertension, while WC was strongly associated with T2DM and dyslipidemia.Key words: obesity, chronic disease, cut-off value