title: Waist circumference cut-off in relation to body mass index and percentage of body fat in adult women from Merida, Mexico.
abstract: Waist circumference (WC) as an index of central obesity is related to body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF). Waist circumference data were analyzed to identify a WC cut-off for adult women with respect to BMI-based obesity (≥ 30 kg/m²) and PBF. The sample was 138 women aged 22 to 41 years with Maya ancestry (based on surnames) in Merida, Yucatan, measured during 2011 - 2013. Anthropometric parameters included height, body weight (BW), and BMI. The PBF was estimated by bioelectrical impedance. Estimated cut-offs per centimeter WC (80 - 99 cm) were predicted by BMI for obesity (≥ 30 kg m⁻²; binomial: Yes = 1, No = 0) and PBF (continuous variable) using binary logistic regression analyses. Mean age was 32 years, mean BMI was 29 kg m(-2) and mean WC was 89 cm. The sample exhibited high PBF (44 %), and high rates of overweight (44%) and obesity (40%). The threshold WC (≥ 93 cm) had high sensitivity (80%), specificity (82%), Youden Index value (0.62), and correct classification rate (82%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 88 %. The WC ≥ 93 cm cut-off had corresponding values for mean BMI (34 kg m⁻²) and PBF (47%). The optimal WC cut-off at 93 cm significantly identified central obesity for BMI ≥ 30 kg m⁻² and PBF for this sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Merida, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sudip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Datta Banik
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Merida, Mexico.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult