Overall obesity and abdominal obesity and the risk of metabolic abnormalities.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between overall or abdominal obesity and various metabolic abnormalities.


METHODS
The medical records of participants undergoing examination from January 2000 to December 2002 were analysed. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) for overall obesity and waist circumference (WC; cm) indicating abdominal obesity were measured. Four groups were studied: (1) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC: female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (2) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC: female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (3) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC: female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm; (4) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC: female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm.


RESULTS
There were 1,342 (44%) females and 1,711 males aged 20-87 years. The prevalence of overall obesity was 20.4% and abdominal obesity was 48%. Obese subjects had more metabolic abnormalities than non-obese in terms of risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high level of LDL, low level of HDL, high ratio of TC/HDL, hyperuricaemia and fatty liver.


CONCLUSIONS
As overall and abdominal obesity may predict clustering of metabolic abnormalities we suggest that BMI and WC are convenient methods for assessing metabolic abnormalities in primary healthcare settings.
Lai
S W
SW
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. shihweil@ms2.hinet.net
Ng
K C
KC
D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids