3种肥胖指标对云南省纳西族和普米族中心性肥胖的预测及民族间比较

目的 比较3种不同肥胖指标对云南省丽江市纳西族与普米族成人中心性肥胖的预测价值,计算腰围身高比值（WHtR）、身体质量指数（BMI）、腰臀脂肪指数（AVI）的最佳切点,比较纳西族、普米族与南北方民族BMI、WHtR之间的差异,为判定中心性肥胖及相关疾病提供科学参考。 方法 通过随机抽样选取云南省纳西族成人658（男性278,女性380）例、普米族成人496（男性216,女性280）例为研究对象,以内脏脂肪等级（VFL）作为中心性肥胖的诊断标准,运用直线相关分析探讨WHtR、BMI、AVI与VFL之间的相关性,并采用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC曲线）比较3种肥胖指标在预测纳西族与普米族中心性肥胖的价值。使用Excel 2019作图,SPSS 23.0统计学软件处理数据。 结果 纳西族与普米族男性年龄、体质量、身高、腰围、臀围、AVI 6项指标值差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;纳西族与普米族女性年龄、身高、腰围、WHtR、BMI、AVI 6项指标值差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。相关性分析显示,纳西族、普米族男性、女性的WHtR、BMI和AVI 3项指标与VIL均成正相关（P<0.01)。ROC曲线显示,WHtR对预测纳西族与普米族男性中心性肥胖价值最高(P<0.01),BMI对预测纳西族与普米族女性中心性肥胖价值最高(P<0.01)。聚类分析显示,纳西族、普米族男性与傈僳族、水族等南方民族相近,纳西族女性与藏族、景颇族相近,普米族女性与傈僳族、水族等南方民族相近。 结论 WHtR、BIM、AVI判定中心性肥胖均有统计学意义,可联合运用BMI和WHtR判定纳西族与普米族中心性肥胖。     

颈围预测成人肥胖的可行性分析

目的 通过对颈围与肥胖关系的分析,探讨颈围对肥胖预测的可行性,进而为早期预防肥胖及相关疾病提供参考。 方法 选取临高人、黎族、羌族、白马人4个族群共1859名成人（男性911名,女性948名）作为研究对象,分别将其颈围与身体质量指数（BMI）、体脂率、内脏脂肪等级、腰围、腰臀比、身体肥胖指数 6项国内外公认的肥胖指标进行相关性分析、u 检验及受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析和 Kappa 一致性检验。 结果 颈围与其他几种肥胖指标均具有显著正相关性,与身体肥胖指数和腰臀比相关性最小,与腰围、内脏脂肪等级、体脂率相关性较大,与BMI相关性最大。不同肥胖指标判断的肥胖组颈围均值都大于正常组,且差异具有统计学意义。ROC曲线分析和 Kappa 一致性检验表明,颈围与各项肥胖指标的曲线下面积（AUC）均>0.7,且颈围与BMI和腰围在判断肥胖时一致性最好。 结论 当男性颈围值>临界切点值364.5时,女性颈围值>319.5时,可预测为BMI值达到超重或肥胖;而男性颈围值>370.5,女性颈围值>319.5时,可以预测腰围超标,中心性肥胖的危险性增大。     

水族的中心性肥胖评价*

目的：探讨水族中心性肥胖的现状。方法：采用直线相关分析和受试者工作特征（ ROC）曲线分析方法， 在腰围身高比、腰围、腰臀比、身体质量指数4 项指数（ 或指标）中筛选判断评价中心性肥胖的指标，对水族 中心性肥胖进行评价。结果：ROC曲线分析显示，在预测中心性肥胖中腰围身高比准确性最高。本研究采用腰 围身高比评价水族中心性肥胖发生率，水族男性、女性腰围身高比均值分别为0.492、0.522，其中男性超标率为 41.13%，女性超标率为62.54%，上述研究结果比较显示，水族男性超标率偏低，女性超标率偏高。水族女性中 心性肥胖率大于男性。结论：腰围身高比更适宜用来评价中心性肥胖，水族中心性肥胖水平与其他南亚类型族群 接近，低于北亚类型族群。     

不同糖代谢状态人群的肥胖指标与动脉硬化的相关性

目的研究北京市社区不同糖代谢状态人群的肥胖指标与动脉硬化的相关性。方法用臂-踝脉搏波传导速度(baPWV)反映动脉硬化程度。对北京市石景山区两个社区大于或等于40岁居民进行体格检查,测量体重(weight)、腰围(WC)、体重指数(BMI)、腰臀比(WHR)、腰围升高比(WHtR)及标准化问卷调查、生化和糖化血红蛋白检测、75 g葡萄糖耐量实验及baPWV测量。对数据资料完整及BMI大于或等于18.5 kg/m2的9 080名人员根据75OGTT试验及糖尿病史分为NGT、IGR和DM组,分析BMI、WC、WHR、WHtR与baPWV之间的关系。结果在NGT、IGR、DM组,根据WC、WHR、WHtR分成亚组,中心型肥胖组的baPWV明显高于正常组(P0.01),在DM组内,以BMI作为肥胖标准,baPWV仅在NGT和IGR组内有统计学意义,在DM组无显著差异(P0.05)。在NGT、IGR和DM组内,中心型肥胖指标(WC、WHR、WHtR)与baPWV呈显著正相关(P0.05),BMI仅在NGT组内与baPWV呈正相关,在IGR和DM组内无明显相关(P0.05)。校正年龄、性别、心血管危险因素,通过多元回归分析发现,WHR和WHtR每增加0.1,baPWV则随之升高40.6 cm/s和55.3 cm/s。结论在糖代谢异常人群中,中心性肥胖指标(WC、WHR、WHtR)与动脉硬化呈正相关,较BMI更能反映动脉硬化程度。     

北京市3—18岁人群腰围和腰围身高比分布特征及其适宜界值的研究

目的 研究北京市3～18岁人群腰围（WC）、腰围身高比（WHtR）的分布特征；在心血管疾病（CVD）危险因素评估的基础上提出6—18岁人群WC和WHtR的适宜界值。方法 对2004年北京市儿童青少年代谢综合征研究项目总人群中3—18岁人群的WC、WHtR进行描述性分析；基于CVD危险因素评估，采用工作者特征曲线分析方法，研究6—18岁人群WC和WHtR的适宜界值；并利用《北京市学校卫生防病工作规划》（2006）血脂健康调查中6—17岁人群生理、生化检测数据，对上述界值进行交叉验证。结果 基于CVD危险因素评估基础上的WC适宜界值为性别年龄组的第80百分位值，WHtR的适宜界值为0．46。交叉验证显示：按WC和WHtR适宜界值划分的肥胖组血压、血脂等CVD危险因素无论均值还是检出率均显著高于正常体重组。结论 上述WC、WHtR适宜界值可敏感地区分高血压、高三酰甘油和低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇等CVD危险因素，WC作为相对简单的测量方法应列入学生体检的常规测量项目。     

人体测量学肥胖判定指标与微量白蛋白尿的相关性

目的:探讨各项人体测量学肥胖判定指标与微量白蛋白尿(MAU)的相关性。方法:采取分层的整群随机抽样方法,从糖尿病流行病学调查数据库中抽取1 170例,清晨留取随机测定尿微量白蛋白和尿肌酐,根据尿微量白蛋白/尿肌酐比值(UACR)水平分为:正常白蛋白尿(NAU)组(男398例,女409例)和MAU组(男175例,女188例)。收集一般临床资料和测定生化指标,统计学处理采用SPSS 16.0软件。结果:与NAU组相比,MAU组年龄、空腹血糖(FBG)、舒张压(DBP)、收缩压(SBP)、血清尿酸(SUA)、腰围(WC)、腰身比(WHtR)、腰臀比(WHR)、高血糖(HG)、原发性高血压、血脂异常及肥胖,尤其腹型肥胖患病率均高于前者,差异有统计学意义;多元线性回归分析,年龄、DBP、FBG、WHtR、WC、WHR与UACR相关。调整年龄、性别、FBG及DBP等因素后,对MAU影响大小依次WHtRWCWHR;采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析男性人群WHtR、WC、WHR等预测MAU的曲线下面积依次为0.68(95%CI:0.67-0.70)、0.64(95%CI:0.62-0.65)、0.57(95%CI:0.55-0.59),预测切点0.52、91.8、0.90cm。在女性人群中,WHtR、WC、WHR等预测MAU的曲线下面积依次为0.71(95%CI:0.70-0.72)、0.69(95%CI:0.68-0.70)和0.64(95%CI:0.62~0.65),预测切点0.52、82.5、0.84 cm。结论:人体测量学腹型肥胖指标与微量白蛋白尿密切相关,可作为预测、评估人群患病风险的简易指标;在人体测量学腹型肥胖指标中,WHtR是预测本地区人群微量白蛋白尿等风险的最好指标,最佳切割点为0.52。     

西藏日喀则地区成年僧人体质状况与血压水平的相关性分析

目的:探讨西藏日喀则地区成年僧人体质状况与血压水平的相关性,为高血压的早期预防提供相关依据。方法:采用整群随机抽样的方法,对居住在西藏日喀则地区成年僧人155例的血压(BP)、身高、体质量、腰围(WC)、臀围进行测量,并计算体质指数(BMI)、腰臀比(WHR)和腰身比(WHtR)。结果:155例检测者中高血压的患病率是29%,高血压组在年龄、BMI、WC、WHR和WHtR等方面均高于血压正常组。收缩压和舒张压均随着年龄的增加呈升高趋势;脉压亦随着年龄的增大而增大;高血压的患病率也随着年龄的增加而逐步增大。随着全身性肥胖指标BMI的增加,血压各水平和高血压患病率均升高。各中心性肥胖组的血压水平和高血压患病率均明显高于非肥胖组。Pearson线性相关分析显示,BMI、WC、WH-R和WHtR与收缩压、舒张压和脉压均呈正直线相关。以高血压为因变量进行多因素logistic回归分析,结果显示,BMI、WC和WHtR是血压变化的独立影响因素。结论:西藏日喀则地区成年僧人血压水平与体质状况密切相关,高血压患病率和肥胖率均较高,应予以足够重视,积极控制全身性肥胖和中心性肥胖,从而防治高血压的发生。     

中国维、汉、哈族成人不同腰围切点代谢综合征的患病率

目的分析我国维吾尔族、汉族及哈萨克族成人不同腰围切点下的代谢综合征（Ms）患病率,探讨不同民族采用适合本民族特点的腰围切点诊断MS的可行性。方法采用分层整群随机抽样方法,对新疆乌鲁木齐市、和田地区及阿勒泰地区维、汉、哈族20～74岁人群进行MS横断面调查。MS诊断以国际糖尿病联盟（IDF）定义为基础,腰围切点根据不同民族区分。结果当腰围切点均为男≥90em和女≥80cm时,维、汉、哈族MS粗患病率分别为42．1％,16．7％和9．5％;年龄标化患病率分别为28．3％,10．5％和5．9％。调整腰围切点为维吾尔族男≥93cm,女I〉89cm;汉族男I〉85cnl,女I〉80cm;哈萨克族男≥99cm,女≥88cm,维、汉、哈族MS粗患病率分别为25．6％,20-3％和6．9％;标化患病率分别为17．6％,13．4％和4．5％。结论根据各民族自身特点调整腰围切点可减少维吾尔族和哈萨克族MS的误诊率,减少汉族MS的漏诊率,维吾尔族与汉族和哈萨克族之间的MS患病率差距缩小。     

中国新疆地区哈萨克族7～18岁中小学生体重指数分布和超重肥胖筛查参考值的建立

目的建立中国新疆地区哈萨克族7～18岁中小学生超重和肥胖的体重指数（BMI）百分位曲线和界值点参考标准。方法采用横断面调查研究,在中国新疆阿勒泰市及其所属乡镇的中小学采用整群随机抽样方法抽取4所学校（共49个班级）同意参加调查的哈萨克族7～18岁中小学生为调查对象。采集性别、年龄、身高和体重测量资料;应用偏度-中位数-变异系数法建立哈萨克族7～18岁中小学生的BMI百分位曲线;利用儿童青少年超重和肥胖的BMI百分位数曲线在18岁通过国际肥胖工作小组（IOTF）定义的成人超重和肥胖BMI界值点（25kg·m^-2/30kg·m^-2）和中国肥胖问题工作组（WGOC）定义的界值点（24kg·m^-2和28kg·m^-2）的方法,计算出哈萨克族7～18岁各年龄超重和肥胖的BMI界值点。结果共采集7～18岁中小学生2487名,其中男1158名,女1329名。①按照IOTF标准,超重和肥胖的BMI百分位曲线：男性分别为P88.63和P98.28,女性分别为P84.41和P98.12;按照WGOC标准,超重和肥胖的BMI百分位数曲线：男性分别为P92.96和P99.28,女性分别为P90.53和P99.38。②哈萨克族男性超重和肥胖BMI标准曲线低于WGOC和IOTF标准;女性肥胖标准曲线13～14岁前低于WGOC和IOTF标准,之后略高于WGOC和IOTF标准。③哈萨克族男性超重、肥胖的界值百分位曲线均低于或接近的汉族和维吾尔族水平;哈萨克族女性超重界值百分位曲线在14岁前介于汉族和维吾尔族间,之后接近或达到汉族水平;肥胖界值百分位曲线在10岁前低于汉族和维吾尔族水平,14岁后达到或接近汉族水平。结论儿童青少年BMI分布有显著的地域差异和民族差异,哈萨克族中小学生超重和肥胖BMI界值标准不同于IOTF和WGOC所建议的相应标准。因此哈萨克族中小学生超重、肥胖人群的筛查可以参考本研究建立的标准。     

云南省纳西、普米、傈僳族肥胖状况分析及受试者工作特征曲线对高血压的预警作用

目的 探讨云南省丽江市纳西、普米、傈僳族的肥胖流行状况和高血压的患病情况,并计算身体质量指数（BMI）、腰围、内脏脂肪等级的临界点来预警高血压,为高血压防治工作提供参考。方法 选取18～90岁纳西、普米、傈僳族1471名,采用活体测量的方法对其身体形态指标进行测量,并测量血压,使用 Logistic 回归分析肥胖对高血压的影响,以BMI、腰围、内脏脂肪等级绘制各民族受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线。使用IBM SPSS 24.0统计学软件对数据进行处理。结果 688名纳西族中肥胖108人（15.7%）,腹型肥胖385人（56%）,内脏脂肪超标197人（28.5%）;513名普米族中肥胖46人（9%）,腹型肥胖279人（54.4%）,内脏脂肪超标113人（22%）;270名傈僳族中肥胖率24人（8.9%）,腹型肥胖121人（44.8%）,内脏脂肪超标54人（20%）。3个民族肥胖、腹型肥胖、内脏脂肪超标的总体分布差异均存在统计学意义（χ2=15.724、10.007、10.886,P<0.05）。纳西族肥胖、腹型肥胖、内脏脂肪超标率最高（P<0.05）。高血压患病601人（40.9%）,腹型肥胖和内脏脂肪超标是高血压的危险因素（OR=0.676, 0.456,P<0.05）。可选用BMI、腰围、内脏脂肪等级预警高血压（AUC >0.5, P<0.05）。结论 纳西族、普米族和傈僳族的肥胖率等处于较高水平,可通过监测腰围和BMI来预防高血压的发病并对提早防治高血压具有重要意义。     

Body Composition,Sarcopenia, and Suicidal Ideation in Elderly Koreans: Hallym Aging Study

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between body composition and suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly population (n = 302; ≥ 65 years) who participated in the Hallym Aging Study in 2010. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and obesity was measured by the indices of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body fat percentage. Sarcopenia was defined as presence of both low muscle mass and low muscle function. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. We found no differences in body composition measures between subjects with suicidal ideation and those without. In the logistic regression analyses, there were no significant relationships for suicidal ideation according to body composition measures, including BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, and body fat percentage in both sexes. After adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, medical comorbidities, monthly income, education level, and presence of depressive symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) of suicidal ideation was higher in elderly men with sarcopenia compared to those without, whereas no significant relationships were observed in elderly women (OR 8.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–61.34 in men; OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.07–8.43 in women). Sarcopenia is closely associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation in elderly men.     

Validity of newly-developed BMI and waist cut-off values for Sri Lankan children

Background: Excess body fat leads to obesity-related morbidity and population/ethnicity-specific cut-off values of anthropometric measures are useful for better diagnosis. This study assesses the suitability of newly-developed Sri Lankan anthropometric cut-off values in the diagnosis of obesity in Sri Lankan children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at University of Colombo, Sri Lanka involving 5–15 year old children. Height, weight, waist (WC), and hip (HC) circumferences were measured. Total body fat (FM) was measured using whole body BIA. WHR and WHtR were calculated. Validity of anthropometric measures in detecting childhood obesity (Sri Lankan BMI/WC; IOTF, WHO, British and CDC BMI and British WC cut-off values) were evaluated.

Results: Nine hundred and twenty children were assessed. FM showed significant associations with BMI (r = 0.92, p < 0.001), WC (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) and HC (r = 0.85, p < 0.001), but poor association with WHR (r = 0.17, p < 0.001). However, WHtR had a high association with FM (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and %FM (r = 0.78, p < 0.001). Based on %FM cut-offs, 85 (22.8%) girls and 101 (18.5%) boys were obese. All international anthropometric cut-off values under-estimated obesity. Sri Lankan WC and BMI cut-off values over-estimated obesity. International BMI based cut-off values had high specificity (>99%) but a low sensitivity (～12–33%), while Sri Lankan BMI cut-off values had high sensitivity (>93.1) but low specificity (>79.7).

Conclusions: Internationally available BMI cut-off values are poor in diagnosing obesity in Sri Lankan children. Newly developed Sri Lankan BMI cut-off values for children improved the diagnosis. WC can be used successfully as an alternative diagnostic tool of obesity.     

Sleep duration is associated with body fat and muscle mass and waist‐to‐height ratio beyond conventional obesity parameters in Korean adolescent boys

While evidence has supported a strong association between sleep duration and obesity globally, results from studies of children and adolescents have been conflicting, and information about a sex‐specific association has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the association of sleep duration with various parameters of obesity among South Korean adolescents. This population‐based, cross‐sectional study analysed the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 2009 and 2010. Data of 990 adolescents were analysed. Sleep duration was based on a self‐reported questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), body fat percentage (BFP) and skeletal muscle index (SMI, appendicular skeletal muscle mass as a percentage of body weight) were assessed as parameters of obesity. Mean sleep duration in boys was associated inversely with BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and positively with SMI. Proportions of the highest quartile of BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and the lowest quartile of SMI increased significantly with increased sleep duration only in boys. Also, in boys, decreased sleep duration was associated significantly with the increased risk of the highest quartile of BMI, WC, WHtR and BFP and the lowest quartile of SMI, even after adjusting for confounding factors. However, in girls, there was no significant association between sleep duration and obesity parameters except WC. Periodic assessment of sleep duration in relation to body fat or muscle mass in male adolescents may be considered, especially in those who are at risk for obesity or related disorders.     

Differential Association of Adiposity Measures with Heart Rate Variability Measures in Koreans

Purpose

Although obesity has been associated with imbalances in cardiac autonomic nervous system, it is unclear whether there are differential relationships between adiposity measures and heart rate variability (HRV) measures. We aimed to examine differences in the relationship between adiposity measures and HRV indices in a healthy Korean population.

Materials and Methods

In all, 1409 non-smokers (811 males, 598 females) without known histories of cardiovascular (CV), endocrine, or neurological diseases underwent adiposity measurements [(body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat mass (PBF), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)], the HRV assessment (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, LF/HF, and pNN50), and examination for CV risk factors (fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and blood pressure).

Results

Compared with BMI and PBF, WHR was more strongly correlated with each HRV index and more likely to predict decreased HRV (<15 percentile vs. ≥15 percentile of each HRV index) in ROC curves analysis. In linear regression analysis, all adiposity measures were inversely associated with each HRV measure before adjusting for age, gender, and CV risk factors (p<0.05). After adjusting for the covariates, WHR was inversely related to RMSSD, LF, and pNN50; PBF with RMSSD, HF, and pNN50; BMI with RMSSD (p<0.05). The inversed association between HRV indices and the gender-specific WHR tertile was significant for subjects with BMI ≥25 kg/m², but not for those with BMI <25 kg/m².

Conclusion

WHR and PBF appear to be better indicators for low HRV than BMI, and the association between abdominal adiposity and HRV may be stronger in overweight subjects.     

Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Abdominal Obesity and Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Background and ObjectivesThe meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of visceral fat area (VFA), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetic patients.MethodsIncluded studies were searched from Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library before July 2020. We synthesized the pooled results of the above relationships by meta-analysis.ResultsFourteen cross-sectional studies were enrolled. The pooled results indicated there was a significant difference in continuous VFA, WC and WHR/WHtR between patients with DKD and those without DKD (standard mean difference, SMD, 0.24, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.13–0.36, p = 0.000). For VFA, patients with DKD had higher VFA levels than those without DKD (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.03–0.50). In the WC subgroup, patients with DKD had higher WC levels than those without DKD (SMD 0.17, 95% CI 0.10–0.24); similarly, abdominal obesity (dichotomized WC) was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of DKD (expected shortfall, ES, 1.57, 95% CI 1.32–1.86). However, the association of continuous WHR/WHtR with DKD was not statistically significant (SMD 0.43, 95% CI −0.12 to 0.97), while we found this relationship was statistically significant when analyzed categorically (ES 1.58, 95% CI 1.22–2.06).ConclusionIn this meta-analysis, we found abdominal obesity parameters (continuous VFA, WC) were associated with increased odds of DKD, and type 2 diabetic patients with DKD were more likely to have abdominal obesity (categorized using WC or WHR/WHtR).     

Does body mass index reflect adequately the body fat content in perimenopausal women?

OBJECTIVE: To test whether BMI cut-off points for obesity, reflect adequately the actual obesity status, in a sample of perimenopausal women. For study's purposes, a new bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equation was estimated. METHODS: 115 Greek, middle-aged women were tested. Body composition was estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry and BIA method. Waist (WC) and hip circumference (HC) and skinfolds were also measured. RESULTS: The BIA equation predicted fat free mass (FFM) from height, weight, age and resistance (R(2)=0.88, S.E.E.=1.89 kg). The bias was not significant and the limits of agreement +/-3.6 kg. BMI, FFM, body fat percentage (BF%), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), WC and HC did not differ between pre (N=37) and postmenopausal (N=48) women (at p=0.05). Both BF% and BMI correlated with WHR and WC (r(BF%-WHR)=0.287, p=0.009; r(BMI-WHR)=0.355, p=0.001 and r(BF%-WC)=0.72, p<0.0001; r(BMI-WC)=0.81, p<0.0001). The mean values for BF%, WC and WHR for women with normal BMI were 36.15% (+/-4.19), 72.53 cm (+/-3.64) and 0.749 (+/-0.05), whereas values for overweight women were 41.42% (+/-3.16), 83.06 cm (+/-7.55) and 0.787 (+/-0.05) and for obese these were 47.40% (+/-3.67), 95.10 cm (+/-8.52) and 0.814 (+/-0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: The body composition analysis of the study sample revealed undesirably high BF%, even in subjects with BMI below 25, in whom BMI did not reflect the body fat content. However, BF was mainly distributed at the lower part of the body. Whether BMI or BF% is a more sensitive index for obesity related diseases, in perimenopausal period, remains to be defined.     

Anthropometric measurements of Australian Aboriginal adults living in remote areas: Comparison with nationally representative findings

To compare body size measurements in Australian Aboriginals living in three remote communities in the Northern Territory of Australia with those of the general Australian population. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and derivative values of body mass index (BMI), waist‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐height ratio (WHT), and waist‐weight ratios (WWT) of adult Aboriginal volunteers (n = 814), aged 25 to 74 years were compared with participants in the nationally representative ‘AusDiab’ survey (n = 10,434). The Aboriginal body habitus profiles differed considerably from the Australian profile. When compared to Australian females, Aboriginal females were taller and had lower hip circumference but had higher WC, WHR, WHT, and WWT (P < 0.01 for all). When compared with their Australian counterparts, Aboriginal males were shorter, had lower body weight, WC, hip circumference, BMI, and WHT but had higher WHR and WWT (P < 0.001 for all). Significantly more Aboriginal females were classified as overweight and or obese using cutoffs defined by WC and by WHR than by BMI. Aboriginal males were less often overweight and/or obese by BMI than their counterparts, but were significantly more often overweight or obese by WHR. There were significant variations in body size profiles between Aboriginal communities. However, the theme of excess waist measurements relative to their weight was uniform. Aboriginal people had preferential central fat deposition in relation to their overall weight. BMI significantly underestimated overweight and obesity as assessed by waist measurements among Aboriginals. This relationship of preferential central fat deposition to the current epidemic of chronic diseases needs to be explored further. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.