Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio are used by the World Health Organization for the judgment of obesity and body fat distribution. The veracity of this diagnosis method is limited.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difference of body mass index, body fat content, waist-to-hip ratio and visceral fat area for the judgment of obesity.
METHODS: A total of 471 hospitalized medical patients were selected and divided into three groups according to ages and genders: young group, middle age group and elder group. Body fat content and visceral fat area were measured by bioelectrical impedance method to judge obesity and overweight. The veracity of the two judgment methods mentioned above were compared with that of body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio judgment methods.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in body mass index of different age groups between genders. There was significant difference in female body fat content among different age groups (P < 0.01); and it increased with age. The obesity rate diagnosed using body fat content was higher than that diagnosed using body mass index among all groups other than male elder group (obesity rate diagnosed using body fat content was lower). There was significant difference in the abdominal obesity rate diagnosed using waist-to-hip ratio and visceral fat area in different age groups between genders (P < 0.01); and it increased with age. The abdominal obesity rate diagnosed using waist-to-hip ratio was higher than that using visceral fat area among all groups (P < 0.01) other than male young group (no difference). These findings indicate that there is difference in the obesity rate diagnosed using body mass index and body fat content; there is difference in the abdominal obesity rate diagnosed using waist-to-hip ratio and visceral fat area. Body fat content and waist-to-hip ratio can be used to diagnose obesity and abdominal obesity; however, further investigation is needed.