title: Waist circumference, BMI, and visceral adipose tissue in white women and women of African descent.
abstract: Although waist circumference (WC) is a marker of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), WC cut-points are based on BMI category. We compared WC-BMI and WC-VAT relationships in blacks and whites. Combining data from five studies, BMI and WC were measured in 1,409 premenopausal women (148 white South Africans, 607 African-Americans, 186 black South Africans, 445 West Africans, 23 black Africans living in United States). In three of five studies, participants had VAT measured by computerized tomography (n = 456). Compared to whites, blacks had higher BMI (29.6 ± 7.6 (mean ± s.d.) vs. 27.6 ± 6.6 kg/m², P = 0.001), similar WC (92 ± 16 vs. 90 ± 15 cm, P = 0.27) and lower VAT (64 ± 42 vs. 101 ± 59 cm², P < 0.001). The WC-BMI relationship did not differ by race (blacks: β (s.e.) WC = 0.42 (.01), whites: β (s.e.) WC = 0.40 (0.01), P = 0.73). The WC-VAT relationship was different in blacks and whites (blacks: β (s.e.) WC = 1.38 (0.11), whites: β (s.e.) WC = 3.18 (0.21), P < 0.001). Whites had a greater increase in VAT per unit increase in WC. WC-BMI and WC-VAT relationships did not differ among black populations. As WC-BMI relationship did not differ by race, the same BMI-based WC guidelines may be appropriate for black and white women. However, if WC is defined by VAT, race-specific WC thresholds are required.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. AnneS@intra.niddk.nih.gov
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Micklesfield
authors.forename: Madia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricks
authors.forename: Anita V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Tambay
authors.forename: Nilo A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Estelle V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Naomi S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Rotimi
authors.forename: Marshall K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tulloch-Reid
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Goedecke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012016:Reference Values; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult