Objective: To evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on metabolic health risks (MHR).
Methods: Based on data from two community populations (Suzhou city and Changshu city) derived from a project on 'multiple metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome' in Jiangsu province. 1604 subjects were divided into groups as normal weight (BMI: 18-23.9), overweight (BMI: 24-27.9) and obesity (BMI > or = 28) according to BMI measurement. According to the results from WC measurement, they were grouped as abdominal obesity (male: > or = 85 cm; female: > or = 80 cm) and normal. Relative risks (RR) for hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia were calculated.
Results: In males and females, the mark values of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia as well as the prevalence of MS were related to BMI and WC. The relativity remained true when the confounding factors were under control. Among the overweight group, the aRR of all these metabolic health risks were basically lower than those when the overweight group and the abdominal obesity group were combined. Both in males and females, when groups combining normal weight with abdominal obesity group, the aRR of all these metabolic health risks were higher than overweight group combining with normal WC group in most of the cases.
Conclusion: As to the effect of BMI and WC on metabolic health risks, WC--the mark of abdominal obesity seemed to be more effective than BMI.