Changes in waist circumference independent of weight: Implications for population level monitoring of obesity
Journal article
Gearon, Emma, Tanamas, Stephanie K., Stevenson, Christopher, Loh, Venurs Hui Yee and Peters, Anna. (2018). Changes in waist circumference independent of weight: Implications for population level monitoring of obesity. Preventive Medicine. 111(June, 2018), pp. 378 - 383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.11.030
Authors | Gearon, Emma, Tanamas, Stephanie K., Stevenson, Christopher, Loh, Venurs Hui Yee and Peters, Anna |
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Abstract | Population monitoring of obesity is most commonly conducted using body mass index (BMI). We test the hypothesis that because of increases in waist circumference (WC) independent of increases in weight, BMI alone detects an increasingly smaller proportion of the population with obesity. Methods: Australian adults with measured height, weight, and WC were selected from three nationally representative cross-sectional surveys (1989, 1999–2000, 2011–12; n = 8313, 5903 & 3904). Participants were defined as having obesity using classifications for an obese BMI (≥ 30 kg·m− 2) and substantially-increased-risk WC (≥ 88 cm [women], ≥ 102 cm [men]). Age-standardised prevalence of obesity according to BMI and/or WC, and the proportion of these detected by BMI and by WC were compared across surveys. Findings: Between 1989 and 2011–12, weight and WC increased by 5.4 kg and 10.7 cm (women), and by 7.0 kg and 7.3 cm (men). For women and men, 63% and 38% of increases in WC were independent of increases in weight. Over this period, the prevalence of obesity according to BMI and/or WC increased by 25.3 percentage-points for women (18.9% to 44.3%) and 21.1 percentage-points for men (17.1% to 38.2%). The proportion of these detected by BMI decreased for women by 20 percentage-points (77% to 57%) with no change for men. The proportion of these detected by WC increased for women and men by 10 percentage-points (87% to 97%) and 6 percentage-points (85% to 91%) respectively. Conclusion: BMI alone is detecting a decreasing proportion of those considered obese by BMI and/or WC. Renewed discussion regarding how we monitor obesity at the population level is required. |
Keywords | epidemiology; obesity; population surveillance; trends; waist circumference |
Year | 2018 |
Journal | Preventive Medicine |
Journal citation | 111 (June, 2018), pp. 378 - 383 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
ISSN | 0091-7435 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.11.030 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85044350515 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Page range | 378 - 383 |
Research Group | Institute for Health and Ageing |
Author's accepted manuscript | License File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q6v3/changes-in-waist-circumference-independent-of-weight-implications-for-population-level-monitoring-of-obesity
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Author's accepted manuscript
AM_Gearon_2017_Changes_in_waist_circumference_independant_of_weight.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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