Obesity, coronary heart disease risk factors and diabetes in Chinese: an approach to the criteria of obesity in the Chinese population

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between excess body weight and the risks of hypertension and diabetes in the population of northeastern China. Subsections of a cross-sectional survey in Da Qing City were used to assess the relationship of excess weight to risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). A 6-year prospective study also assessed the probability of developing Type 2 diabetes. A total of 2856 adults (25-70 years of age) were assessed cross-sectionally and 629 non-diabetic subjects of similar age were followed-up for 6 years. Blood pressure, plasma fasting glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoporotein (HDL) cholesterol and fibrinogen levels were measured as well as weight, height and waist and hip circumferences. About 45% of adults had a body mass index (BMI) of > or =25.0. Risk factors increased with increasing BMI from a baseline value of 21.0: at a BMI of 23.0-24.9, the risk of hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia doubled; the risk increased threefold at a BMI of 25.0-26.9. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increased progressively in women within the normal BMI range and in men from a BMI of 25.0. Type 2 diabetes was four times as common if the BMI was >27.0. Increasing waist measurements predicted 10-fold increases in hypertension and a three-to-five times increased risk of diabetes. Suitable waist cut-off points were 85cm for men and 80cm for women, with statistical analysis showing waist as the more dominant predictor of risk than age, waist-to-hip ratios or BMIs. Hence, small increases in BMI, and particularly in waist circumference, predict a substantial increase in the risk of diabetes and risk for CHD, especially hypertension, in Chinese adults.

Obesity indices and cardiovascular risk factors in Thai adults

“…The optimum cutoff points for each anthropometric measure for men and women were determined by the determination of point where sensitivity and specificity converged (maximum of both). All the 23.06 kg/m 2 , P-value o0.05 and 0.53 vs 0.49, P-value o0.01, respectively), and had lower WHpR than men (0.86 vs 0.89, P-value o0.05), but both men and women had relatively similar mean WC values (80.7 cm). Height, weight and BMI decreased with age, whereas WC and hip increased in the 50-64 years age group and decreased in the X65 years age group.…”

“…21 The findings that waist, waist hip and WHtR appeared to be more related to cardiovascular risk factors even in the old ages were consistent with other studies. 3,4,22,23 However, the optimal cutoff point for waist circumference for Thai compared to other Asian countries such as Chinese or Japanese might be different. 24,25 The variation might be due to the difference in age group, the body size, metabolic status and physical activity.…”

Proposed cut‐off values of the waist circumference for metabolic syndrome based on visceral fat volume in a Japanese population

“…The joint Scientific Statement published in 2009 recommended that separate cut‐off values of WC should be set for different ethnic groups10. The Statement also mentioned that several different WC values have been proposed in Japan, ranging from >85–90 cm for men and >80 cm for women in recent studies23, 24, 25, in contrast to the JASSO cut‐off values of ≥85 cm for men and ≥90 cm for women9. Although the JASSO cut‐off value is consistent with our present value for men, the value we obtained for women was 10‐cm smaller than the JASSO value.…”

Betel nut chewing and other risk factors associated with obesity among Taiwanese male adults

“…10 Obesity is an important risk factor for a legion of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] However, the number of researches studying the relationship between betel nut chewing and body size remains fairly limited. As Taiwan is marked by a high prevalence rate of betel nut chewing 18 and has witnessed an increasing incidence of the above-mentioned chronic diseases, our research has accordingly examined the relationship between betel nut chewing and body build.…”