A new approach for estimating healthy body weights.
Optimal body weight standards have most often been based on the relationship of relative weight to all cause mortality. This report proposes a strategy based on a more direct measure of adiposity, subscapular skinfolds and cardiovascular disease risk factors, rather than mortality. This approach provides a means for determining standards that are consistent with optimum cardiovascular health without the lengthy follow-up required for mortality studies. The report utilizes data on 2447 non-smoking men and women aged 20-59 years. Seven cardiovascular disease risk factors were significantly related to subscapular skinfold thickness in both sexes in an unfavourable direction. The optimal subscapular skinfolds based on these risk factors for 20-39 year olds were determined to be below 12 mm for men and 15 mm for women. Men and women who had subscapular skinfolds at or below the optimal level had a mean body mass index of 22.6 kg/m2 and 21.1 kg/m2 for men and women, respectively. The probability of being above the optimum adiposity rises rapidly across body mass index levels above 20 kg/m2 and plateaus at above 0.90 in both men and women with body mass index above 24 kg/m2. Thus, screening for above optimal adiposity is necessary only in individuals with body mass index at or below 24 kg/m2.
Field Studies and Biometry Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
R J
RJ
Garrison
W B
WB
Kannel
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids