Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as indicators of fat location in Black, White, and Mulatto Brazilian men

Objective: To assess whether skin color classification as White, Mulatto, and Black is associated with abdominal fat location among healthy Brazilian men. Design: Cross sectional study of men aged 2059 years attending the Cuiaba Blood Center during August 1999 to January 2000. Skin color was defined by interviewer judgment. Body fat was estimated through electrical bioimpedance, and anthropometric measures were obtained by trained antropometrists. Setting: Cuiaba, Brazil Participants: Data refer to 1235 healthy men. Only 29 men refused to participate. Main Outcome Measures: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHIR). Results: No differences were seen in body mass index according to race, but fat location was statistically smaller among Blacks and Mulattos compared to Whites, mainly among the middle aged. After adjustment for age, percent body fat, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, income, and schooling, Blacks compared to Whites had smaller waist (approximate to 2 cm) and smaller WHR (P <.01 for waist for both age groups and P=.05 for WHR). Mulattos were in an intermediate position, but the association was statistically significant only among middle-aged men. Conclusions: In this healthy population with high admixture of Blacks and Whites, abdominal adiposity was highly associated with race, andWhites had a greater risk of abdominal fat location.