Anthropometric cutoff values for detecting metabolic abnormalities in Jordanian adults

Abstract

Objectives

To determine cutoff values for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as indicators of metabolic abnormalities in the adult Jordanian population.

Methods

A structured questionnaire was administered to collect relevant information. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical measurements were carried out. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were used to examine the overall discriminatory power of the four anthropometric indices.

Results

WC cutoff values varied from 88.5 to 91.8 cm in men and from 84.5 to 88.5 cm in women. The BMI cutoff values varied from 26.2 to 27.2 kg/m² in men and from 27.2 to 30.0 kg/m² in women. The WHR cutoff values varied from 0.88 to 0.90 in men and from 80.0 to 0.83 in women. The WHtR cutoff values varied from 0.50 to 0.51 in men and women. Of all anthropometric indices, WHtR had the strongest association with each metabolic abnormality in men and women.

Conclusion

BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR were found to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, with WHtR being the better predictor. We recommend that health care professionals use WHtR, with a cutoff value of 0.5 for screening and counseling Jordanian people.

Keywords:

• anthropometric indices
• metabolic abnormalities
• receiver-operating characteristic curve
• cutoff values
• Jordan

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Scientific Research Fund at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Jordan.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.