Evaluation of abdominal visceral obesity from anthropometric parameters using receiver operating characteristic curves / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the best cut-off point, sensitivity and specificity of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in predicting of abdominal visceral obesity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Abdominal visceral fat area (VA) was measured with magnetic resonance image (MRI) in 690 subjects (men 305, women 385). Meanwhile, BMI, WC, WHR were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used as index for analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) 61.7% of over-weight/obesity (OW/OB) and 14.2% of normal weight (NW) individuals were abdominal visceral obesity (VA >/= 100 cm(2)) by MRI diagnosis. 2) VA was significantly positively correlated with anthropometric variables (BMI, WC, WHR), in which WC was the best (r = 0.73 - 0.77, P < 0.001). 3) The best cut-off points of these anthropometric parameters in assessing abdominal visceral obesity were as follow BMI 26 kg/m(2), WC 90 cm, WHR 0.93. Among them WC showed most sensitive and specific. 4) 95% men and 90% women appeared abdominal visceral obesity in subjects with BMI >/= 28 kg/m(2) or WC >/= 95 cm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BMI, WC, WHR can all predict abdominal visceral obesity, with WC the best.</p>