Original Article
International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 1782–1790. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803346; published online 18 April 2006
Obesity indices and cardiovascular risk factors in Thai adults
W Aekplakorn1, V Kosulwat2 and P Suriyawongpaisal1
- 1Community Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- 2Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Correspondence: Dr W Aekplakorn, Community Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Rajdevi, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. E-mail: rawap@mahidol.ac.th
Received 25 May 2005; Revised 22 February 2006; Accepted 15 March 2006; Published online 18 April 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the relationship of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) with cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes in Thai population.
Design:
A national cross-sectional survey of cardiovascular risk factors.
Subjects:
Five thousand and three hundred five Thai adults aged 
35 years.
Measurements:
Body weight, height, waist and hip circumference and cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose were measured. Age- and sex–specific means and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were calculated and compared among anthropometric measurements.
Results:
There were increasing trends of severity of cardiovascular risk factors and prevalence of morbidity conditions across increasing levels of BMI, WC, WHpR and WHtR categories. For age group 65 years, WC, WHpR and WHtR provided more consistent association with cardiovascular risk factors than BMI. Area under the curve indicated that measurement of central obesity could predict cardiovascular risk better than BMI. The optimal cutoff points for anthropometric measurements were in line with the Asia-Pacific recommendation; however, similar cutoff point for men and women between 82 and 85 cm was observed.
Conclusion:
Central obesity indices were slightly better associated with cardiovascular risk factors compared to BMI in Thai adults aged 35 years.
Keywords:
body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, cardiovascular risk, Thai adults
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