Waist to Hip Ratio, Waist Circumference

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  5. Waist to Hip Ratio, Waist Circumference

Measure Definition:

It is recommended that investigators utilize uniform landmarks, with waist circumference measured at the iliac crest and hip circumference measured at the level of the trochanters as utilized by the National Center for Health Statistics in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey studies. It should be noted that the abdominal circumference measured at the midpoint between the inferior border of the ribcage and the superior aspect of the iliac crest has been reported to be a better correlate of central adiposity in some studies. However, the NIH method is recommended to allow for better comparisons with existing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and other data.

Construct:

Anthropometry

Construct Definition (and Source):

The technique that deals with the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the human or other primate body. (MSH)

Selected References

Citation PubMed ID

Larsson B, Svärdsudd K, Welin L, Wilhelmsen L, Björntorp P, Tibblin G. Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity, and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: 13 year follow up of participants in the study of men born in 1913. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1984 May 12;288(6428):1401-4. doi: 10.1136/bmj.288.6428.1401. PMID: 6426576; PMCID: PMC1441047.
6426576

Pouliot M, Despres J, Lemieux S, et al. Waist circumference and abdominal sagittal diameter: best simple anthropometric indexes of abdominal visceral adipose tissue accumulation and related cardiovascular risk in men and women. Am J Cardiol 1994;73:460-468.
8141087

Larsson B, Svarsudd K, Welin L, Wilhelmsen L, Bjorntorp P, Tibblin G. Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity, and risk of cardiovascular diseaseand death: 13 year follow up of participants in the study of men born in 1913. Br Med J 1984;288:1401-1404.
6426576

Lapidus L, Bengtsson C, Larsson B, Pennert K, Rybo E, Sjostrom L. Distibution of adipose tissue and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: a 12 year follow up of participants in the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden. Br Med J 1984;289:1257-1261.
6437507

Tchernof A, Despres J. Pathophysiology of human visceral obesity: an update. Physio Rev 2013;93:359-404.
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Bosy-Westphal A, Kahlhofer J, Lagerpusch M, Skurk T, Muller M. Deep body composition phenotyping during weight cycling: relevance to metabolic efficiency and metabolic risk. Obes Rev 2015;16:36-44.
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Barreira T, Staiano A, Harrington D, et al. Anthropometric correlates of total body fat, abdominal adiposity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a biracial sample of men and women. Mayo Clin Proc 2012;87:452-460.
22560524

Kamel E, McNeill G, Han T, et al. Measurement of abdominal fat by magnetic resonance imaging, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry in nonobese men and women. Int J Obes 1999;23:686-692.
10454101

Ludescher B, Machann J, Eschweiler G, et al. Correlation of fat distribution in whole body MRI with generally used anthropometric data. Invest Radio 2009;44: 712-719.
19809346

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) anthropometry procedures manual. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/2021-2023/manuals/2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf. Published 2011. AQ8 Accessed

Ma W, Yang C, Shih S, et al. Measurement of waist cirucmference: midabdominal or iliac crest? Diabetes Care 2013;36:1660-1666.
23275359