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Waist circumference as a measurement of obesity in the Netherlands Antilles; associations with hypertension and diabetes mellitus

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1159–1165 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate waist circumference (WC) as a screening tool for obesity in a Caribbean population. To identify risk groups with a high prevalence of (central) obesity in a Caribbean population, and to evaluate associations between (central) obesity and self-reported hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Population-based study.

Subjects: A random sample of adults (18 y or older) was selected from the Population Registries of three islands of the Netherlands Antilles. Response was over 80%. Complete data were available for 2025 subjects.

Interventions: A questionnaire and measurements of weight, height, waist and hip.

Main outcome measurement: Central obesity indicator (WC ≥102 cm men, ≥88 cm women).

Results: WC was positively associated with age (65–74 y vs 18–24 y) in men (OR=7.7, 95% CI 3.4–17.4) and women (OR=6.4, 95% CI 3.2–12.7). Women with a low education had a higher prevalence of central obesity than women with a high education (OR=0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.7). However, men with a high income had a higher prevalence of a central obesity than men with a low income (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1–2.6). WC was the strongest independent obesity indicator associated with self-reported hypertension (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.4–2.0) and diabetes mellitus (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.3–1.9).

Conclusion: The identified risk groups were women aged 55–74 y, women with a low educational level and men with a high income. WC appears to be the major obesity indicator associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Sponsorship: Island Governments of Saba, St Eustatius and Bonaire, the Federal Government of the Netherlands Antilles, Dutch Directorate for Kingdom relationships.

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Acknowledgements

This study is a joint project of the Epidemiology & Research Unit of the Medical and Public Health Service of Curaçao, the Northern Centre for Health Care Research of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the Foundation for Promotion of Research and International Cooperation in Health Care (ISOG) in Curaçao, the Island Governments of Saba, St Eustatius and Bonaire and the Federal Government of the Netherlands Antilles. The study was co-financed by the Dutch Directorate for Kingdom relationships. The authors wish to thank Gabi Fuchs, Wim van den Heuvel and Eric van Sonderen and for their valuable contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Centre for Health Care Research, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    L Grievink

  2. Epidemiology and Research Unit, Medical and Public Health Service of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

    L Grievink, J F Alberts, J O’Niel & I Gerstenbluth

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  1. L Grievink
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  2. J F Alberts
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  3. J O’Niel
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  4. I Gerstenbluth
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Contributions

Guarantor: JF Alberts.

Contributors: L Grievink was involved in the study design and analysed the data. JF Alberts coordinated the study, J O’Niel and I Gerstenbluth were involved in the study design. All authors contributed to the writing of the article.

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Correspondence to J F Alberts.

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Grievink, L., Alberts, J., O’Niel, J. et al. Waist circumference as a measurement of obesity in the Netherlands Antilles; associations with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1159–1165 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601944

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