[Study on the metabolic health risks of body mass index and waist circumference].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on metabolic health risks (MHR).


METHODS
Based on data from two community populations (Suzhou city and Changshu city) derived from a project on 'multiple metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome' in Jiangsu province. 1604 subjects were divided into groups as normal weight (BMI: 18-23.9), overweight (BMI: 24-27.9) and obesity (BMI > or = 28) according to BMI measurement. According to the results from WC measurement, they were grouped as abdominal obesity (male: > or = 85 cm; female: > or = 80 cm) and normal. Relative risks (RR) for hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia were calculated.


RESULTS
In males and females, the mark values of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia as well as the prevalence of MS were related to BMI and WC. The relativity remained true when the confounding factors were under control. Among the overweight group, the aRR of all these metabolic health risks were basically lower than those when the overweight group and the abdominal obesity group were combined. Both in males and females, when groups combining normal weight with abdominal obesity group, the aRR of all these metabolic health risks were higher than overweight group combining with normal WC group in most of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
As to the effect of BMI and WC on metabolic health risks, WC--the mark of abdominal obesity seemed to be more effective than BMI.
Hu
Xiao-Shu
XS
Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210009, China.
Guo
Zhi-Rong
ZR
Wu
Ming
M
Zhang
Jun
J
Sun
Guo-Xiang
GX
Zhou
Zheng-Yuan
ZY
Zhou
Hui
H
Yao
Cai-Ling
CL