Waist circumference correlates better with body mass index than waist-to-hip ratio in Asian Indians

Background. Waist circumference has been reported to be a better index of android (abdominal) obesity than waist-to-hip ratio. It is likely that the cut-off values that denote medical risk in the Caucasian population cannot be extrapolated to Asian Indians. Methods. This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements were taken in 285 subjects (207 men, mean age 37 years, range 18-76 years; and 78 women, mean age 31.5 years, range 18-69 years). The subjects comprised patients under psychiatric care as well as normal individuals. The correlation of waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio with body mass Index was studied. The prevalence of abdominal obesity using waist circumference was compared to the prevalence of abdominal obesity using waist-to-hip ratio. (Both the standard and the new recommended cut-offs for Asians were used.) Results. Waist circumference correlated better with body mass index than waist-to-hip ratio (in men r = 0.821 and 0.341, and in women r = 0.729 and 0.113; p less than or equal to 0.01). Forty-seven per cent of overweight men and 73% of overweight women had abdominal obesity as defined by the standard waist circumference cut-offs compared to none of the men and 47% of overweight women using the waist-to-hip ratio. Conclusion. Waist circumference correlates better with body mass index than waist-to-hip ratio. The prevalence of abdominal obesity using waist circumference Is higher than that With waist-to-hip ratio. This is especially so In Asian Indians as the new recommendations of both body mass Index and waist circumference cut-offs to detect subjects at medical risk are lower in them than in Caucasians.