3 ms·
as this study shows, BMI is a useful measure despite its limitations, however others have preferred waist-to-hip ratio as a better health risk metric. waist-to
by fsckboy 4y ago
as this study shows, BMI is a useful measure despite its limitations, however others have preferred waist-to-hip ratio as a better health risk metric.
waist-to-hip-ratio is actually simpler to measure and calculate than BMI.
Here’s how from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/what-is-waist-to-hip-ratio https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/what-is-waist-to-hip-...
Measure waist at the smallest point. Wrap a tape measure around your waist at the smallest point, usually around your belly button. This is your waist circumference.
Measure hips by wrapping the tape measure around your hips at the widest part. This is your hip circumference.
Divide your waist size by your hip size. This is your waist-to-hip ratio. A good rule of thumb is that your waist should be smaller than your hips, no matter your weight or BMI.
WHO defines abdominal obesity in men as a waist-to-hip ratio of at least 0.90. For women, it’s a ratio of 0.85 or more. A ratio higher than 1.0 for either sex means a much higher chance of health problems.
TFA mentions waist-to-hip but doesn't assess it: "We were not able to accurately capture co-morbidities. We were also unable to compare other anthropometric indices, such as waist-to-hip ratio with corresponding DXA measurements, due to lack of hip circumference data."
more from WebMD:
Too much fat around your waist is known as abdominal obesity. This fat is called visceral fat because it surrounds your liver and other organs. This can affect both men and women, but men are more likely to have too much fat around the waist. Women are more likely to carry fat around their hips and thighs.
Visceral fat sends hormones, fatty acids, and other chemicals that cause inflammation into your body. This leads to higher cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. It also leads to higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood.
Fat around your waist can make you more likely to have other health problems, including: Heart disease, Cancer, Stroke, Type 2 diabetes
- stewbrew 4y agoI simply cannot imagine such a measure to be sensible for all types of body shapes.
- lhl 4y agoI linked to one review earlier, but there's actually a lot of evidence that WHtR is quite good against a number of populations and ages, and certainly for each individual, even if you ignore cutoffs, it will be directionally correct: Corbatón Anchuelo, Arturo, María Teresa Martínez-Larrad, Irene Serrano-García, Cristina Fernández Pérez, and Manuel Serrano-Ríos. “Body Fat Anthropometric Indexes: Which of Those Identify Better High Cardiovascular Risk Subjects? A Comparative Study in Spanish Population.” PLoS ONE 14, no. 5 (May 23, 2019). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216877 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216877. Djap, H. S., B. Sutrisna, P. Soewondo, R. Djuwita, K. H. Timotius, Trihono, S. Sharif, and Y. S. Tjang. “Waist to Height Ratio (0.5) as a Predictor for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Indonesia.” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 434 (December 2018): 012311. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/434/1/012311 https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/434/1/012311. Zhu, Qihan, Feixia Shen, Tingting Ye, Qi Zhou, Huihui Deng, and Xuejiang Gu. “Waist-to-Height Ratio Is an Appropriate Index for Identifying Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese Individuals with Normal Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference.” Journal of Diabetes 6, no. 6 (November 2014): 527–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.12157 https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.12157. Vrdoljak, Davorka, Biserka Bergman Marković, Ksenija Kranjčević, Dragica Ivezić Lalić, Jasna Vučak, and Milica Katić. “How Well Do Anthropometric Indices Correlate with Cardiovascular Risk Factors? A Cross-Sectional Study in Croatia.” Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research 18, no. 2 (February 1, 2012): PH6–11. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.882451 https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.882451. Ochoa Sangrador, C., and J. Ochoa-Brezmes. “Waist-to-Height Ratio as a Risk Marker for Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood. A Meta-Analysis.” Pediatric Obesity 13, no. 7 (2018): 421–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12285 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12285. Caminiti, Carolina, Marisa Armeno, and Carmen S. Mazza. “Waist-to-Height Ratio as a Marker of Low-Grade Inflammation in Obese Children and Adolescents.” Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism: JPEM 29, no. 5 (May 1, 2016): 543–51. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2014-0526 https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2014-0526.
- stewbrew 4y agoThank you all for your replies.
- tallytarik 4y agoThe claim was just that it’s a better indicator than BMI, which is certainly not sensible for all bodies.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- fsckboy 4y agoI think the other replies to you are good, i'll just add, unlike BMI, waist to hip focuses on abdominal fat and the additional claim is that abdominal fat is "the worst kind" for health, i.e. (i'm not an expert, and i'm not going to research, but from memory) men tend to get belly fat, women tend to get hip fat, but women who get belly fat are at increased health risk in the same way that men are, heart attacks, etc.