Association of anthropometric indices of obesity with diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia: a study from central India

Background: Obesity is a proven harbinger for Diabetes, Hypertension and Dyslipidemia. The association of these diseases with anthropometric indices of obesity is still an uncertain issue because of difference in socioethnic background and lack of representative data. Objective: To study the association of selected established anthropometric indices of obesity viz body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) with Diabetes, Hypertension and Dyslipidemia in non-Caucasian population residing in Central India. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional descriptive study. Participants were selected from out-patients setting of Medicine in a teaching hospital through consecutive sampling. Structured Questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and bio-chemical tests were administered to 369 participants. Results: Waist Circumference was associated with Hypertension, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia in male and Dyslipedemia in female. Waist-hip ratio showed association with Dyslipidemia in female while BMI with Hypertension (male) and dyslipidemia (female). Conclusion: Waist circumference as obesity index may be a more reliable predictor of cardiovascular disease risk factors viz. Hypertension, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia among central Indian population compared with BMI and WHR.