Ability of body mass index to predict abnormal waist circumference: receiving operating characteristics analysis

• Published in: Diabetology and metabolic syndrome 2013-11, Vol.5 (1), p.74-74, Article 74
• Main Authors: Lauria, Márcio Weissheimer, Moreira, Lívia Maria Pinheiro, Machado-Coelho, George Luiz Lins, Neto, Raimundo Marques do Nascimento, Soares, Maria Marta Sarquis, Ramos, Adauto Versiani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body mass index; Body size; Forecasts and trends; Men; Metabolic disorders; Obesity; Physiological aspects; Physiological research; Type 2 diabetes; Womens health
• ISSN: 1758-5996; 1758-5996
• DOI: 10.1186/1758-5996-5-74

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are the most used anthropometric measures to identify obesity. While BMI is considered to be a simple and accurate estimate of general adiposity, WC is an alternative surrogate measure of visceral obesity. However, WC is subject to significant inter-examiner variation. The aim of the present study was to correlate BMI and WC measures in a group of Brazilian adults to determine the most accurate BMI values for predicting abnormal WC. BMI and WC were measured in 1184 volunteers (45.6 ± 17.3 yrs; 69% female) using standard procedures. Abnormal WC was defined as ≥88 cm in women and ≥102 cm in men using the traditional criteria, and ≥80 cm in women and ≥90 cm in men using the new criteria. Statistical analysis involved the calculation of Pearson's correlation coefficients and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. BMI was strongly correlated with WC (women: r = 0.87, p