Objective: To evaluate the best cut-off point, sensitivity and specificity of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in predicting of abdominal visceral obesity.
Methods: Abdominal visceral fat area (VA) was measured with magnetic resonance image (MRI) in 690 subjects (men: 305, women: 385). Meanwhile, BMI, WC, WHR were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used as index for analysis.
Results: 1) 61.7% of over-weight/obesity (OW/OB) and 14.2% of normal weight (NW) individuals were abdominal visceral obesity (VA >/= 100 cm(2)) by MRI diagnosis. 2) VA was significantly positively correlated with anthropometric variables (BMI, WC, WHR), in which WC was the best (r = 0.73 - 0.77, P < 0.001). 3) The best cut-off points of these anthropometric parameters in assessing abdominal visceral obesity were as follow: BMI: 26 kg/m(2), WC: 90 cm, WHR: 0.93. Among them WC showed most sensitive and specific. 4) 95% men and 90% women appeared abdominal visceral obesity in subjects with BMI >/= 28 kg/m(2) or WC >/= 95 cm.
Conclusion: BMI, WC, WHR can all predict abdominal visceral obesity, with WC the best.