Validity of body mass index and waist circumference in the classification of obesity as compared to percent body fat in Chinese middle-aged women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the validity of currently recommended obesity cutoffs of body mass index (BMI, in kg/m 2 ) and waist circumference (WC, in cm) for Asians by the WHO/IASO/IOTF and for Chinese by the Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) using the percentage body fat (%BF)-obesity criteria. Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects: A total of 1122 community-based Hong Kong Chinese women aged between 41 and 63 years. Measurements: Total %BF and percent truncal fat (%TF) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometric indices were measured using standard methods. Results: Regression analyses showed that the BMI cutoffs of 23, 24, 25, and 28 kg/m 2 corresponded to the %BF of 34.8, 35.9, 36.9 and 39.5%, and the 80 cm WC corresponded to 34% TF, respectively. Compared with the %BF obesity cutoff (X40%), the WHO/IASO/IOTF BMI-obesity criterion (X25) shows a good sensitivity (75%) and specificity (71%); and the WGOC criterion (BMIX28) had a low sensitivity (41%) but an excellent specificity (93%), respectively. Corresponding to the BMI cutoffs of 23, 24, 25 and 28 kg/m 2 , the %BF cutoffs associated with peak k statistic were 33, 34, 35 and 40%, and the relevant %TF linked with 80 cm WC was 33%, respectively. Conclusion: BMI and WC have a good accuracy in the prediction of obesity. Our findings suggest that the WGOC BMI cutoffs are appropriate, but 80 cm of WC is a very rigorous cutoff for this population when using the criteria of 34 and 40% of body fat or truncal fat for overweight and obesity.

Sex differences in assessment of obesity in rheumatoid arthritis

“…Stavropoulous-Kalinoglou previously suggested that the BMI cut-point for obesity be reduced by 2 kg/m 2 (i.e., to 28) for individuals with RA; our analyses support cut-points that are even lower. Other investigators have also noted in non-RA populations that the current obesity cut-point of BMI≥30 is too high, has low sensitivity to detect adiposity in the general population, and is not appropriate for specific ethnic groups, and have identified alternate BMI obesity cut-points very similar to those we identified, ranging from 25-25.8(40-45). …”

Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Developing Chronic Kidney Disease in Japanese Adults

“…Therefore, metabolic syndrome was defined based on the modified criteria of the ATP III, in which BMI (≥ 25 kg/m 2 ) was substituted for the waist circumference measurement. Both waist circumference and BMI are accurate predictors of total body fat, however, in the Asian population (40). Furthermore, the present study suggests that the modified ATP III criteria are useful for detecting the risk for developing CKD.…”

Consumption and corpulence in China

“…2 The cutoff points of 24 for overweight and 28 for obesity are the BMI standards for the Asian population as a whole. Their empirical validity is under discussion and a domain of research; a recent study conducted among 1122 middle-aged (41-63 years old) Chinese women suggests that the recommended BMI cutoffs are appropriate (Chen et al, 2006). 3 The CNNHS classify the survey areas in six different categories according to criteria of economic development levels and geographic typology: large cities (such as Beijing or Shanghai), medium and small cities (such as small provincial capitals), first class rural areas (such as Yangtze delta), second class rural areas (such as Northeast plain or Sichuan basin), third class rural areas and fourth class rural areas (e.g.…”