Lowering body mass index cutoffs better identifies obese persons with spinal cord injury.
METHODS
Cross-sectional, non-experimental design.


OBJECTIVE
(1) Determine the sensitivity and specificity of the general population body mass index (BMI) cutoff for obesity (30 kg m(-2)) in a representative sample of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) develop a more sensitive BMI cutoff for obesity based on percentage of fat mass (%FM) and C-reactive protein (CRP).


METHODS
Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
A total of 77 community-dwelling adults with chronic SCI underwent anthropometric measures (%FM by bioelectrical impedance analysis, length, weight, BMI (kg m(-2))) and provided blood samples to determine CRP. Sensitivity and specificity analyses, piecewise regression, non-linear regression, and receiver-operator characteristic curves were used to determine new BMI cutoffs.


RESULTS
A BMI cutoff of 30 kg m(-2) failed to identify 73.9% of obese participants vs 26.1% at a lowered cutoff of 25 kg m(-2). BMI cutoffs based on risk levels of the %FM and CRP considered together ranged from 22.1 kg m(-2)-26.5 kg m(-2).


CONCLUSIONS
People with chronic SCI and BMI values >22 kg m(-2) should be considered as being at high risk for obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases.


BACKGROUND
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Laughton
G E
GE
Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1.
Buchholz
A C
AC
Martin Ginis
K A
KA
Goy
R E
RE
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein