Overall obesity and abdominal obesity and the risk of metabolic abnormalities.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases. AIM: To determine the relationship between overall or abdominal obesity and various metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: The medical records of participants undergoing examination from January 2000 to December 2002 were analysed. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) for overall obesity and waist circumference (WC; cm) indicating abdominal obesity were measured. Four groups were studied (1) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (2) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC female < 80cm or male < 90cm; (3) BMI < 27kg/m2, WC female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm; (4) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm. RESULTS: There were 1,342 (44%) females and 1,711 males aged 20-87 years. The prevalence of overall obesity was 20.4% and abdominal obesity was 48%. Obese subjects had more metabolic abnormalities than non-obese in terms of risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high level of LDL, low level of HDL, high ratio of TC/HDL, hyperuricaemia and fatty liver. CONCLUSIONS: As overall and abdominal obesity may predict clustering of metabolic abnormalities we suggest that BMI and WC are convenient methods for assessing metabolic abnormalities in primary healthcare settings.