Anthropometric indices as screening tools for cardiovascular risk factors in Singaporean women

Previous studies have suggested the need to revise the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off values for the various indices of obesity and fat distribution in Singapore. The purpose of this study was to delineate cut-off points of body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), and waist-stature ratio (WSR) as screening tools for cardiovascular risk factors in Singaporean women. Anthropometric indices were measured in a cross sectional survey of 566 subjects (60% Chinese individuals, 28% Malay individuals and 12% Indian individuals). Cardiovascular risk factors were determined by measuring blood pressure, serum lipids, and fasting blood glucose levels. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine cut-off points. Forward logistic regression and area under curves (AUC) were used to determine the best anthropometric index. For at least one cardiovascular risk factor (hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus), the cut-off points for BMI, WHR, WC and WSR were around 23.6 kg/m(2), 0.80, 77.8 cm and 0.48 for Singaporean females. The AUC of WSR was the highest for all three risk factors in females (0.79 for hypertension, 0.70 for dyslipidaemia, 0.88 for diabetes mellitus). Regression analyses revealed that WSR was independently associated with all risk factors. For Singaporean female adults, the cut-off points were lower than the criteria suggested by the WHO, but were in agreement with those reported for Asians. BMI, WHR, WC and WSR may be used as screening tools for cardiovascular risk factors, of which WSR may be the best anthropometric index.     

人体测量指标与中小学生胰岛素抵抗的相关性研究

目的 了解体质指数(BMI)、腰围、腰臀比(WHR)及脂肪率与中小学生胰岛素抵抗的相关性。方法 测量247例中小学生身高、体重、腰围、臀围、脂肪率(%BF),计算BMI、WHR,测量其空腹血糖(FBG)及空腹胰岛素(FIN),通过稳态模型法(HOMA)计算胰岛素抵抗(IR)指数(HOMA-IR),评价胰岛素敏感性;通过ROC曲线下面积评价各项指标对IR的预测效能,并计算出相应指标的特异度及灵敏度,两者同时最大的点作为各项指标的切点。结果 ROC曲线下面积、切点分别为:BMI 0.771、27.45,WHR 0.681、0.923,腰围0.777、86.5 cm,%BF 0.66%、26.85%。结论 腰围、BMI、WHR、脂肪率均可作为预测IR的参考指标,腰围和BMI为最佳指标。     

Derivation of anthropometric cut-off levels to define CVD risk in Sri Lankan adults

Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Anthropometric cut-off values derived for Caucasians may not be applicable to other populations. The main objective of the present study was to derive population-specific anthropometric cut-off values to define high CVD risk for Sri Lankan adults. A nationally representative sample of 4474 non-institutionalised adults aged ≥?18 years was analysed. Cut-off values to provide optimum sensitivity and specificity were derived using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure and overnight fasting venous blood samples were collected to measure glucose, HDL-cholesterol and TAG. An oral glucose tolerance test was also performed. The results suggested that the age-adjusted BMI, WC and WHR were significantly associated with all cardiovascular risk factors (P?相似文献   

Diagnostic value of anthropometric indices for initial stage of atherosclerosis in adult women

Excess body weight is a cardiovascular risk factor. The relationship between anthropometric indices and cardiovascular health is not completely understood. Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a subclinical marker of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the best anthropometric obesity indicator for diagnosis of initial stage of atherosclerosis by CIMT. This cross-sectional study included 100 adult women, aged 18-50 years. Anthropometric indices were measured with standard protocol and CIMT was measured by non-invasive ultrasound. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to determine the optimal cut-off values of anthropometric indices, and the best indices for atherosclerosis diagnosis. On ROC curve analysis the suggested appropriate cut-offs of waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (%BF) were 96 cm, 0.86, 0.64, 31.29 kg/m2 and 30.42%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of BMI (AUC=0.74, 95%CI=0.62-0.86) and WHtR (AUC=0.74, 95%CI=0.63-0.85) were greater than other anthropometric indices. The AUC for WHR was the lowest among the studied obesity indices AUC=0.68 (95% CI=0.54-0.81). In our study, WHtR and BMI were the best diagnostic parameters of initial stage of atherosclerosis while WHR was the worst based on AUC.     

Receiver-operating characteristic analyses of body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio for obesity: Screening in young adults in central south of China

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent data suggest that current obesity diagnostic criterion based on body mass index (BMI) above 30 in Caucasians may not be appropriate for Asian populations. Our aim was to identify the usefulness of BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in screening for obesity in an Asian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 1109 males and 879 females aged 20-45-yr were recruited. Height, weight, WC, hip circumference and percentage body fat (PBF) were measured in all subjects. Then receiver-operating characteristic analyses were used to evaluate the performances of the three anthropometric indices. RESULTS: BMI, WC and WHR showed strong positive correlation with PBF (r=0.47-0.75) in both males and females within both age groups. True-positive rates ranged from 82.4% to 94.1% and 68.8% to 86.3% in males and females, respectively. True-negative rates ranged from 64.1% to 84.7% and from 56.9% to 79.0%, respectively. The areas under the curves (AUCs) for WC and BMI were high (0.76-0.92) in both sexes and divided age groups (20-30-yr and 31-45-yr), and those for WHR were a little lower (0.74-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and WC are two important predictors for obesity in Chinese, and WHR is an alternative.     

简易体脂参数估测腹内型肥胖的可靠性评价

目的：评价体重指数（BMI）、腰围（WC）、腰臀比（WHR）估测腹内型肥胖的最佳临界点及敏感度、特异度。方法：应用核磁共振（MRI）对690名受试者（男305人，女385人）进行腹内脂肪（VA）测量，同时测量BMI、WC、WHR。以受试者工作特性（ROC）曲线评价简易体脂参数对腹内型肥胖的诊断价值。结果：①经MRI诊断，超重／肥胖者中61．7％，正常体重者中14．2％呈腹内型肥胖（VA≥100cm^2）；②BMI、WC、WHR与腹内脂肪面积呈显著正相关，尤以WC的相关性最好;③简易体脂参数估测腹内脂肪积聚的最佳切割点为BMI：26kg/m^2,WC:90cm,WHR:0.93;④BMI≥28kg/m^2、WC≥95cm时，95％的男性及90％左右的女性呈腹内型肥胖。结论：BMI、WC及WHR都可估测腹内型肥胖，但以腰围的准确率稍高。     

体重指数、腰围和腰臀比预测高血压、高血糖的实用价值及其建议值探讨

目的：探讨体重指数（BMI）、腰围（WC）、腰臀比（WHR）对于预测高血压、高血糖患病的实用价值及其诊断建议值，为确定我国肥胖和腹部肥胖的诊断指标及其界值提供科学依据。方法：利用1995－1997年全国糖尿病（DM）流行病学调查资料进行分析，方法包括偏相关分析、logistic多因素回归分析、交互作用分析，计算BMI、WC、WHR在不同截点暴露对高血压、高血糖和二者聚集的相对危险度（RR）、暴露组归因危险百分比（ARP）和人群归因危险百分比（PARP）。结果：①BMI、WC与血压和血糖的相关性比WHR好；②logistic调整了年龄、性别、职业性体力活动强度、休闲活动强度、文化强度和DM家族史后，BMI、WC、WHR是患高血压、高血糖以及二者聚集重要的预测因子，三者的相对重要性以BMI＞WC＞WHR；③BMI、WC、WHR三者之间对于高血压和高血糖患病率有相加交互作用，尤其以BMI与WC的交互作用普遍存在，其归因交互作用百分比[A[（AB）]在5．95－29．34％之间；④BMI≥23、≥24、≥25时，RR在2．5左右，从流行病学角度看，RR值处于暴露因子与疾病关联的中高度有害范围，其ARP在0．580－0．626之间，从流行病学角度看，RR值处于暴露因子与疾病关联中的中高度有害范围，其ARP在0．580－0．626之间，PARP在0．259－3．08之间，⑤男性WC≥85cm、女性WC≥80cm和男性WC≥90cm，女性WC≥80cm，RR分别在2．06－3．08之间，此时腹部肥胖对高血压、高血糖和二者聚集的PR值分别处于中、高度有害；RR分别在0．515－0．676之间，PARP分别在0．241－0．431之间。结论：从暴露对疾病危害的程度，人们对超重和肥胖的可接受性，我国开展肥胖防治处于初期阶段及公共卫生人群预防的角度综合考虑，在BMI、WC、WHR中，预测我国高血压和高血糖的实用价值以BMI和WC为好，建议以BMI为肥胖指标，BMI≥24诊断为超重和肥胖；以WC为腹部肥胖指标，男性WC≥80cm、女性WC≥80cm为诊断界值。     

Optimal Cut-Off Values of Anthropometric Markers to Predict Hypertension in North Indian Population

The aim of the study was to determine the cut-offs of anthropometric markers for detecting hypertension in an endogamous North Indian population. A cross-sectional study was carried out to collect data from 578 adult Aggarwal Baniya subjects (271 men and 307 women, mean age: 43.4 ± 5.3 and 38.7 ± 4.9 respectively) using multistage, stratified sampling method. Individual body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, blood pressure were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to find out the optimal cut-off values of various anthropometric markers to predict hypertension. The likelihood ratios for having hypertension in subjects with various cut-off values were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the independent relationship between the anthropometric markers and odds of having hypertension. The BMI cut-off to predict hypertension was 22.8 kg/m² in men and 28.8 kg/m² in women. The optimal WC cut-offs varied from 91–92 cm in both men and women. The WHR cut-off was about 0.90 in men and 0.78 in women respectively, and the optimal WHtR cut-off was 0.56 in men and 0.43 in women. The cut-off levels for BMI, WC and WHtR corresponded to the inflexion points in the likelihood ratio graphs. The area under curve (AUC) and odds ratios showed that the risk of having hypertension was highest with respect to increased BMI and that BMI is the best predictor of having hypertension. The cut-off points for detecting cardiovascular risk factors among our population are lower than the criteria by the World Health Organization. Although these results may not be readily applied to the rest of the Indian populations due to the multiethnic composition, they point to the necessity of similar studies with large randomized samples to find the cut-off levels for chronic conditions in different populations.     

体脂分布特征与血脂关系及其预测血脂异常的观察

目的 研究体脂分布特征与血脂关系及其预测血脂异常的价值.方法 采用整群抽样方法抽取北京市郊区居民有效样本784名,测量其身高、体重、腰围(WC)、臀围、身体成分与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG),并计算体重指数(BMI)与腰臀比(WHR).结果 年龄调整偏相关分析显示WC与HDL-C(r=-0.310)、LDL-C(r =0.204),WHR与TC (r=0.151)、TG (r=0.271)的相关性最好.BMI、WC、WHR、躯干脂肪质量(TFM)分组分析显示WC、WHR、TFM能敏感地反应人体血脂水平的变化;BMI、WC、WHR、TFM能敏感地反应低HDL、高TG及血脂异常的风险.ROC曲线分析显示WC、WHR、BMI、TFM预测血脂异常风险的ROC曲线皆在参考线上方,且男女受试者WHR (0.684、0.630)、WC (0.667、0.616)、TFM(0.661、0.604)的ROC曲线下面积有大于BMI (0.629、0.597)的趋势,但差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 体脂分布特征指标如WHR、WC、TFM与BMI相比,在预测血脂异常风险中的应用价值更高;以Youden指数最大值为判定依据预测血脂异常风险,男性理想界值点BMI为24 kg/m2,WHR为0.91,WC为85 cm,TFM为7.5 kg;女性BMI为25 kg/m2,WHR为0.91,WC为87 cm,TFM为9.Skg.由于样本量较少,有待进一步扩大范围的研究.     

Relationship between body composition and blood pressure in Bahraini adolescents

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between body composition and blood pressure (BP) in Bahraini adolescents. A sample of 504 Bahraini schoolchildren aged 12-17 years (249 boys and 255 girls) was selected using a multi-stage stratified sampling procedure. BP measurements were performed on the students. Anthropometric data including weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and triceps, subscapular and medial calf skinfold thicknesses were also collected. BMI, percentage body fat, waist:hip (WHR), and subscapular:triceps skinfold ratio were calculated. Mean systolic BP and mean diastolic BP were higher in males than in females. Weight and height in boys and weight only in girls were significantly associated with systolic BP independent of age or percentage fat. Nearly 14 % of the adolescents were classified as having high BP. BMI and percentage body fat were significantly and positively associated with the risk of having high BP in the boys and girls. Adolescents with high WHR or WC, as indicators for central obesity, tended to have higher BP values. The results from the present study indicate that obesity influences the BP of Bahraini adolescents and that simple anthropometric measurements such as WHR and WC are useful in identifying children at risk of developing high BP. These findings together with the known tracking of BP from adolescence into adulthood underline the importance of establishing intervention programmes in order to prevent the development of childhood and adolescent obesity.     

苏州市社区居民血压与人体测量指标的相关性分析

目的了解苏州市社区居民血压现状,分析居民血压水平与人体测量指标的相关性。方法 2012年9—11月随机抽取苏州市社区居民422名,测量血压、身高、体重、腰围(waist circumference,WC)、臀围,计算出体重指数(body mass index,BMI)、腰臀比(waist-to-hip ratio,WHR)、腰围身高比(waist-to-height ratio,WHtR),并将人体测量指标与血压水平作相关分析。结果苏州市社区居民高血压率为32.7%(138/422),男42.0%(84/200),女24.3%(54/222),男性高于女性(χ2=14.937,P<0.05);除身高与血压无显著相关性外,无论男性还是女性,其余各人体测量指标均与收缩压、舒张压呈现显著正相关关系,其中WHtR与收缩压的相关系数最大,其次是WC。结论苏州市社区居民高血压率较高,WHtR是人群中与血压水平关系最密切的人体测量指标,可作为人群高血压的早期、初步筛查指标。     

成人BMI与体脂含量和脂肪分布的关系

目的 :　调查成人超重和肥胖的发生率 ,探讨体质指数 ( BMI)与体脂含量、腰臀围之间的关系。方法 :　对 1 0 0 5名健康成年人进行人体测量 ,按 WHO对亚洲成年人的 BMI新定义分为 5组 ,对腰围、臀围、腰臀围比值和生物电阻抗法 ( BIA法 )及皮褶厚度法体脂含量的分布进行分析。结果 :　以 BMI法判断超重和肥胖的发生率 ,男性超重率和 度肥胖率明显高于女性 ,男女人群中 度肥胖发生率均较低 ;在相同 BMI组中 ,男性的平均年龄比女性低 ( P<0 .0 1 )。而 BIA法和皮褶厚度法肥胖检出率明显低于 BMI法 ,且女性体脂含量、三头肌皮褶厚度及肩胛下皮褶厚度显著高于男性。不同年龄组 BMI均与体脂含量呈显著正相关。女性超重组的腰围平均值为 80 cm,而男性 度肥胖组的腰围平均值 >90 cm。结论 :　男性超重和肥胖发生的年龄早于女性。以 BMI法判断肥胖和以 BIA法及皮褶厚度法体脂含量法判断肥胖有很大差别 ,仅以 BMI判断肥胖不够准确 ,尚需考虑年龄、性别及运动情况等影响因素。     

人体测量指标预测肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪肝的研究

目的 研究人体测量指标对儿童肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝的预测作用,探讨不同指标筛查非酒精性脂肪肝的切点值。方法 选取自2018年6月—2019年12月在西安交通大学第二附属医院小儿内分泌门诊就诊的94例肥胖儿童为研究对象,进一步分为肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝组与肥胖不伴非酒精性脂肪肝组,52例正常儿童为对照组。测量身高(H)、体重(W)、腰围(WC)、臀围(HC)和血甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C);行肝脏B超的检查。计算体质指数(BMI)、腰臀比(WHR)、腰高比(WHtR)、腹部体积指数(AVI)、脂质蓄积指数(LAP)和内脏脂肪指数(VAI)等指标。通过绘制人体测量指标的受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)评估人体测量指标与肥胖儿童非酒精性脂肪肝的相关性,并比较各项人体测量指标的曲线下面积(AUC)确定切点值。结果 肥胖组BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR、AVI、LAP、VAI及TG均高于对照组(t=23.090、21.068、12.547、22.855、17.578、8.159、5.394、6.183,P＜0.001)。肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝组BMI、WC、AVI、LAP、VAI均高于肥胖不伴非酒精性脂肪肝组(t=2.180、2.389、2.362、3.643、2.839,P＜0.05)。人体测量指标的ROC曲线下面积按从大到小的顺序依次为 LAP、VAI、 WC、 AVI、 BMI。对肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝的联合诊断指标进行筛查效能分析结果显示,LAP+AVI 曲线下面积为0.706(95%CI:0.595~0.817,P＜0.001);AVI+VAI 曲线下面积为0.685(95%CI:0.570~0.800,P＜0.01);BMI+WC 曲线下面积为0.652(95%CI:0.537~0.768,P＜0.05)。联合指标的ROC曲线下面积从大到小为LAP+AVI、AVI+VAI、BMI+WC。结论 LAP联合AVI对儿童肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪肝具有较好的筛查作用。     

Obesity in South Africa: the South African demographic and health survey

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the anthropometric profile and determinants of obesity in South Africans who participated in the Demographic and Health Survey in 1998. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A sample of 13,089 men and women (age, > or =15 years) were randomly selected and then stratified by province and urban and nonurban areas. Height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and waist and hip circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was used as an indicator of obesity, and the waist/hip ratio (WHR) was used as an indicator of abdominal obesity. Multivariate regression identified sociodemographic predictors of BMI and waist circumference in the data. RESULTS: Mean BMI values for men and women were 22.9 kg/m(2) and 27.1 kg/m(2), respectively. For men, 29.2% were overweight or obese (> or =25 kg/m(2)) and 9.2% had abdominal obesity (WHR > or =1.0), whereas 56.6% of women were overweight or obese and 42% had abdominal obesity (WHR >0.85). Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) was found in 12.2% of men and 5.6% of women. For men, 19% of the variation of BMI and 34% of the variation in waist circumference could be explained by age, level of education, population group, and area of residence. For women, these variables explained 16% of the variation of BMI and 24% of the variation in waist circumference. Obesity increased with age, and higher levels of obesity were found in urban African women. DISCUSSION: Overnutrition is prevalent among adult South Africans, particularly women. Determinants of overnutrition include age, level of education, ethnicity, and area of residence.     

Correlation and prediction of trunk fat mass with four anthropometric indices in Chinese males

To increase our understanding of the relationships of trunk fat mass (FMtrunk) and four anthropometric indices in Chinese males, 1090 males aged 20-40 years were randomly recruited from the city of Changsha, China. Waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured using standardized equipment, and three other anthropometric indices of BMI, waist:hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index (CoI) were calculated using weight, height, HC and WC. FMtrunk (in kg) was measured using a Hologic QDR 4500 W dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. There was an increasing trend of FMtrunk, %FMtrunk (percentage of FMtrunk) and BMI, WC, WHR, CoI in successively older age groups (e.g. the mean FMtrunk values were 4.63 (SD 2.58), 5.39 (SD 2.74), 5.93 (SD 2.82), 6.57 (SD 2.94) in four 5-year age groups, respectively). FMtrunk and %FMtrunk were significantly correlated with four anthropometric indices with the Pearson's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.25 to 0.86. Principal component analysis was performed to form three principal components that interpreted over 99.5% of the total variation of four related anthropometric indices in all age groups, with over 65% of the total variation accounted by principal component 1. Multiple regression analyses showed that three principal components explained a greater variance (R(2) 70.0-80.1%) in FMtrunk than did BMI or WC alone (R(2) 57.8-74.1%). The present results suggest that there is an increasing trend of FMtrunk and four anthropometric indices in successively older age groups; that age has important effects on the relationships of FMtrunk and studied anthropometric indices; and that the accuracy of predicting FMtrunk using four anthropometric indices is higher than using BMI or WC alone.     

体检人群颈围与中心性肥胖的关联性研究

目的探讨医院体检人群颈围与中心性肥胖测量指标的关联性。方法对4236名体检者进行体格检查,以颈围的均值四分位数分组,对各组年龄、身高、体重、体质指数（BMI）、腰围、臀围、腰臀比等的均值平均变化量进行比较。以腰围、BMI、腰臀比三种肥胖标准进行分组,分析颈围与肥胖的关系。以ROC曲线分析法判断颈围的切点。结果男性颈围为（37．40±2．46）cm,女性为（32．46±2．24）cm,男性大于女性（t=47．20,P〈0．01）。随着颈围均值每四分位数的增加,男性和女性年龄、身高、体重、BMI、腰围、臀围、腰臀比的平均变化量均呈增加趋势,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,其中腰围（男性：5．58cm,女性：5．26cm）、体重（男性：6．25kg,女性：4．81kg）的平均变化量最大。三种肥胖标准分组中肥胖组的颈围均大于正常组,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。对于中心性肥胖,男性颈围的切点是36．8cm,女性颈围的切点是33．1cm。结论颈围与年龄、身高、体重、BMI、腰围、臀围、腰臀比呈正相关关系。颈围与中心性肥胖存在显著联系,男性颈围〉36．8cm或女性颈围〉33．1cm时可以预测中心性肥胖。     

Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose Prediction Using Anthropometric Indices in Adults from Maracaibo City,Venezuela

To determine the predictive power of various anthropometric indices for the identification of dysglycemic states in Maracaibo, Venezuela. A cross-sectional study with randomized, multi-staged sampling was realized in 2230 adult subjects of both genders who had their body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist–height ratio (WHR) determined. Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were made following ADA 2015 criteria. ROC curves were used to evaluate the predictive power of each anthropometric parameter. Area under the curve (AUC) values were compared through Delong’s test. Of the total 2230 individuals (52.6 % females), 8.4 % were found to have DM2, and 19.5 % had IFG. Anthropometric parameters displayed greater predictive power regarding newly diagnosed diabetics, where WHR was the most important predictor in both females (AUC = 0.808; CI 95 % 0.715–0.900. Sensitivity: 82.8 %; specificity: 76.2 %) and males (AUC = 0.809; CI 95 % 0.736–0.882. Sensitivity: 78.6 %; specificity: 68.1 %), although all three parameters appeared to have comparable predictive power in this subset. In previously diagnosed diabetic subjects, WHR was superior to both WC and BMI in females, and WHR and WC were both superior to BMI in males. Lower predictive values were found for IFG in both genders. Accumulation of various altered anthropometric measurements was associated with increased odds ratios for both newly and previously diagnosed DM2. The predictive power of anthropometric measurements was greater for DM2 than IFG. We suggest assessment of as many available parameters as possible in the clinical setting.     

Optimal cut-offs of five anthropometric indices and their predictive ability of type 2 diabetes in a nationally representative Kenyan study

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the top non-communicable diseases in Kenya and prevention strategies are urgently needed. Intervening to reduce obesity is the most common prevention strategy. However, black populations develop T2D at lower obesity levels and it is unclear which anthropometric cut-offs could provide the best predictive ability for T2D risk. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the optimal anthropometric cut-offs and their predictive ability of T2D in Kenya.MethodsThe study included 2159 participants (59% women) aged 35–70 years from the Kenya STEPwise survey conducted in 2014. Five anthropometric indices were used—body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR) and waist divided by height^0.5(WHt.5R). Diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose of ≥7.0 mmol/l or a previous diagnosis by a health worker. Optimal anthropometric cut-offs and their receiver operating characteristics, such as the area under the curve (AUC), were computed.ResultsOverall, the optimal cut-off for BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR and WHt.5R were 24.8 kg.m⁻², 90 cm, 0.88, 0.54 and 6.9. On disaggregation by sex, the optimal cut-off for BMI, WC, WHR WHtR and WHt.5R was 27.1 kg.m⁻², 87 cm, 0.85, 0.55 and 6.9 in women, and 24.8 kg.m⁻², 91 cm, 0.88, 0.54 and 6.9 in men. Overall, WC (AUC 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.65, 0.76)) WHtR (AUC 0.71 (0.66, 0.76)) and WHt.5R (AUC 0.70 (0.65,0.75)) had a better predictive ability for T2D than BMI (AUC 0.68 (0.62, 0.73)).ConclusionsWC, WHtR and WHt.5R were better predictors of T2D than BMI and should be used for risk stratification in Kenya. A WC cut-off of 87cm in women and 91cm in men, a WHtR cut-off of 0.54 or a WHt.5R of 6.9 in both men and women should be used to identify individuals at an elevated risk of T2D.