Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as indicators of fat location in Black, White, and Mulatto Brazilian men.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether skin color classification as White, Mulatto, and Black is associated with abdominal fat location among healthy Brazilian men.


METHODS
Cross sectional study of men aged 20-59 years attending the Cuiabá Blood Center during August 1999 to January 2000. Skin color was defined by interviewer judgment. Body fat was estimated through electrical bioimpedance, and anthropometric measures were obtained by trained antropometrists.


METHODS
Cuiabá, Brazil.


METHODS
Data refer to 1235 healthy men. Only 29 men refused to participate.


METHODS
Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).


RESULTS
No differences were seen in body mass index according to race, but fat location was statistically smaller among Blacks and Mulattos compared to Whites, mainly among the middle aged. After adjustment for age, percent body fat, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, income, and schooling, Blacks compared to Whites had smaller waist (approximately equal 2 cm) and smaller WHR (P < .01 for waist for both age groups and P = .05 for WHR). Mulattos were in an intermediate position, but the association was statistically significant only among middle-aged men.


CONCLUSIONS
In this healthy population with high admixture of Blacks and Whites, abdominal adiposity was highly associated with race, and Whites had a greater risk of abdominal fat location.
Department of Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil. margon@terra.com.br
Márcia
M
Gonçalves Ferreira
Joaquim
J
Gonçalves Valente
Regina Maria Veras
RM
Gonçalves da Silva
Rosely
R
Sichieri
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000886:Anthropometry; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D044465:White People