Abstract
Body fat distribution plays an important role in occurrence of cardiovascular and other diseases. Intra- abdominal fat has been associated with adverse clinical effects.
Anthropometric measurements can be used to assess the body fat distribution and evaluate health risks in obese persons. Waist hip ratio and waist circumference are the most frequently applied ones.
Waist hip ratio cut-off points range from 0.8 to 0.9 for women and 0.9 to 1.0 for men in literature. Waist circumference is considered as a better indicator of health risks.
Waist circumference of 102 cm/ 88 cm for men/ women is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Waist circumference relates closely to body mass index and is advisable to combine these two indexes.
The locations for waist circumference measurements have varied, different sites are recommended in national and international guideliness with different accuracy rating. The measurement sites are all taken within the region from the tenth rib to the iliac crest.
Some of the values significantly differ from each other, so do the correlations of measured sites with intraabdominal fat. Thus the waist circumference values are comparable only if the same measurement site was used and when using these methods in clinical practice and prevention it is important to choose a site where waist circumference and trunk fat were significantly correlated.