A study of 9,652 middle-aged people, conducted at the Loughborough University, measured body mass index (BMI) and
waist-to-hip ratio. It was found that nearly one in five of the participants were found to be obese.
Table 1: Mean WHR Parameters Value Mean percentage of waist circumference in women (cm) 88 Mean percentage of waist circumference in men (cm) 101 Mean percentage of hip circumference in women (cm) 105 Mean percentage of waist circumference in men (cm) 103 Significant percentage (%) 64.28 Insignificant percentage (%) 35.72 Mean percentage of WHR in women (%) 0.86 Mean percentage of WHR in men (%) 0.92 WHR:
Waist-to-hip ratioWhen individuals were categorized by increasing
waist-to-hip ratio instead of BMI, stepwise higher calculated remnant cholesterol concentrations were likewise associated with stepwise higher risk of myocardial infarction in a similar pattern for
waist-to-hip ratio categories (Fig.
Similarly, each 0.1 increase in
waist-to-hip ratio in these women was associated with a 21 percent increase in the risk of endometrial cancer.
No significant association between BMI, waist circumference, or
waist-to-hip ratio was found in any of the groups (Table 2).
The factors tied to worse cognitive performance included one HIV-related factor (lower lowest-ever CD4 count), one behavioral factor (smoking marijuana), one body size factor (above normal
waist-to-hip ratio), and four non-HIV diseases or conditions (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, poor kidney function, and symptoms of depression).
Although, the majority of studies recommend waist circumference (WC) as a better indicator of abdominal obesity and a better predictor for cardiovascular risk than either BMI or
waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), such findings have not been confirmed in Asians.
Waist-to-hip ratio was calculated after measuring waist circumference between pelvic brim and costal margin, while hip circumference was taken at the level of the greater trochanter.
suggesting an urgent need for lifestyle modifications," they wrote, and since
waist-to-hip ratio may be a better risk indicator for cardiovascular disease than body mass index or waist circumference, "the message of 'keep your waist to less than half your height' is attractive for public health policy."
The study measured 209 adults for body mass index, waist circumference,
waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and conicity index.
They also calculated body mass index and
waist-to-hip ratio, a measure of abdominal obesity.
Instead of taking into account your height and your weight, a better tool may be the
waist-to-hip ratio, which is the measurement of your waist divided by the measurement of your hips.
