Neck circumference may be a valuable tool for screening individuals with obesity: findings from a young Chinese population and a meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundCentral obesity and overweight/obesity can result in various chronic non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. Waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) are widely used to measure obesity despite their limitations. For example, WC and BMI cannot be measured in pregnant women and subjects with abdominal ascites or masses. Therefore, this study aims to determine the efficacy of neck circumference (NC) as a tool for screening central obesity and overweight/obesity.MethodsA total of 1169 undergraduates aged 18–25 years were studied by a cross-sectional survey in China, 2016. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to collect data. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to determine the best threshold of NC for screening central obesity and overweight/obesity. Meanwhile, a meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the efficacy of NC for screening central obesity and overweight/obesity synthetically.ResultsNC was moderately correlated with WC and BMI. The ROC analysis showed that 37.1 cm for male and 32.6 cm for female were the best thresholds for central obesity, and 37.4 cm and 32.2 cm for overweight/obesity, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, area under receiver operating curve (AUC) of central obesity and overweight/obesity were higher. In the meta-analysis, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, AUC and their 95%CI of NC for screening central obesity were 0.72 (0.68~ 0.75), 0.87 (0.74~ 0.94), 0.77 (0.73~ 0.80) for male and 0.73 (0.65~ 0.80), 0.80 (0.71~ 0.86), 0.82 (0.79~ 0.86) for female. For overweight/obesity, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, AUC and corresponding 95%CI were 0.83 (0.70~ 0.91), 0.77 (0.66~ 0.85), 0.86 (0.83~ 0.89) for male and 0.82 (0.71~ 0.90), 0.84 (0.61~ 0.95), 0.89 (0.86~ 0.92) for female.ConclusionNC may not be a good tool for screening individuals with central obesity. But it may be a simple and valuable tool for screening individuals with overweight/obesity, especially in females.

Correlation between body mass index, neck circumference, and waist-hip ratio as indicators of obesity among a cohort of adolescent in Bahrain

“…[ 14 ] However, both of these methods are not without their limitations for example in cases of abdominal ascites, masses or in athletes. [ 15 – 17 ] More recently, NC has been recognized as tool for assessing overweight and obesity in adults, although its usefulness for screening individuals with central obesity is less clear. [ 17 ] Two studies of Saudi adults have demonstrated the NC correlates with WC and BMI, and can be used to screen for overweight and obesity, as well as being culturally acceptable when performed.…”

“…[ 15 – 17 ] More recently, NC has been recognized as tool for assessing overweight and obesity in adults, although its usefulness for screening individuals with central obesity is less clear. [ 17 ] Two studies of Saudi adults have demonstrated the NC correlates with WC and BMI, and can be used to screen for overweight and obesity, as well as being culturally acceptable when performed. [ 18 , 19 ] However, 2 recent meta-analyses/systematic reviews have reported that NC has moderate accuracy for identifying overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, although the issues of standardization of measurements and cut-off values by age and gender remain.…”

Neck Circumference as a Measure of Obesity Among Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes in Young Adults

“…Cut off value in Chinese for overweight/obesity was 37.4 cms and 32.2 cms and, for central obesity 37.1 cms and 32.6 cms in males and females respectively. 5 In a study by Jagadamba et al, NC ≥36 cm in diabetics and ≥37 cm in non-diabetics was the best cut off value to determine subjects with central obesity. 6 Study by…”

The more critical murderer of atherosclerosis than lipid metabolism: chronic stress

“…In recent years, with the rapid development of the economy and the increased aging population, the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases has grown higher and higher, especially in terms of diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, obesity, and chronic psychological stress. Stress can specifically lead to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, and the problem is becoming more and more serious [ 12 , 13 ]. In the process of atherosclerosis, there are changes in vascular intima and media thickness.…”