Minimal waist circumference is a better indicator of cardiovascular risk than umbilical waist circumference

Although truncal obesity is well recognized as a major cardiovascular risk marker, there is no agreement with respect to optimal measurement location. In 266 sedentary overweight subjects of both sexes, waist circumference measures from two different locations (minimal waist circumference vs umbilical) were taken in order to determine which one was more highly correlated with CVD risk factors and metabolic syndrome. To this end, intravenous glucose tolerance tests, fasting plasma lipid analysis, and computed tomography scans were performed. In women, minimal waist circumference was more highly correlated with cardiovascular risk than umbilical waist circumference, for every metabolic variable studied. In men, minimal waist was also better than umbilical waist, though the differences were less striking.

Abstract

Keywords:
Abdominal obesity – Adipose tissue – Cardiovascular risk – HDL-cholesterol – Insulin sensitivity – LDL size – Waist circumference