Anthropometric Indicators as a Tool for Diagnosis of Obesity and Other Health Risk Factors: A Literature Review

Abstract

Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of an excessive amount of fat mass (FM) in the adipose tissue, subcutaneous, or inside certain organs. The risk does not lie so much in the amount of fat accumulated as in its distribution. Abdominal obesity (central or visceral) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, having an important role in the so-called metabolic syndrome. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent, detect, and appropriately treat obesity. The diagnosis is based on anthropometric indices that have been associated with adiposity and its distribution. Indices themselves, or a combination of some of them, conform to a big picture with different values to establish risk. Anthropometric indices can be used for risk identification, intervention, or impact evaluation on nutritional status or health; therefore, they will be called anthropometric health indicators (AHIs). We have found 17 AHIs that can be obtained or estimated from 3D human shapes, being a noninvasive alternative compared to X-ray-based systems, and more accessible than high-cost equipment. A literature review has been conducted to analyze the following information for each indicator: definition; main calculation or obtaining methods used; health aspects associated with the indicator (among others, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes); criteria to classify the population by means of percentiles or cutoff points, and based on variables such as sex, age, ethnicity, or geographic area, and limitations.

Commentary: Anthropometric Indicators as a Tool for Diagnosis of Obesity and Other Health Risk Factors: A Literature Review

“…The Authors also stated that there was no specific cut-offs for VAT accumulation (Piqueras et al, 2021 ). Actually, the cut-off of 130 cm 2 of VAT has previously been defined by Hunter et al ( 1994 ) as associated with an increased risk of hypertension and dyslipidemia.…”

“…Piqueras et al ( 2021 ) reported 17 indices or health indicators to assess obesity using non-invasive and low-cost anthropometric measurements, which constitute a good alternative to expensive and less accessible biomedical imaging.…”

“…Regarding the anthropometric assessment of visceral adipose tissue, the authors stated that ≪ The model proposed by Samouda et al ( 2013 ) correlates Visceral Adipose Tissue Area with the waist circumference and proximal thigh circumferences, BMI, and age, for adult men and women ≫ (Piqueras et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Independently of the general fat mass accumulation, VAT depot has been highlighted as a major risk factor for developing several metabolic, cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and oncological diseases, as well as an increased risk for early mortality (Van Gaal et al, 2006 ; Cereda et al, 2007 ; Fontes-Carvalho et al, 2014 ; Yu et al, 2015 ; Brown et al, 2017 , 2018 ; Dan Lantsman et al, 2018 ; Kuritzkes et al, 2018 ; Magro et al, 2018 ). The Authors reported a significant relationship between the identified anthropometric tools assessing total and regional adiposity and several health issues, including glucose dysregulation, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiometabolic dysregulation, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, as well as a higher risk of early cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (Piqueras et al, 2021 ).…”

“…We read with great interest the recently published article ≪ Anthropometric Indicators as a Tool for Diagnosis of Obesity and Other Health Risk Factors: A Literature Review ≫ (Piqueras et al, 2021 ). We felicitate the Authors as this a comprehensive literature review of the tools currently available to assess or diagnose obesity and potential related health issues.…”