An Anthropometric Risk Index Based on Combining Height, Weight, Waist, and Hip Measurements

Abstract

Body mass index (BMI) can be considered an application of a power law model to express body weight independently of height. Based on the same power law principle, we previously introduced a body shape index (ABSI) to be independent of BMI and height. Here, we develop a new hip index (HI) whose normalized value is independent of height, BMI, and ABSI. Similar to BMI, HI demonstrates a U-shaped relationship to mortality in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) population. We further develop a new anthropometric risk index (ARI) by adding log hazard ratios from separate nonlinear regressions of the four indicators, height, BMI, ABSI, and HI, against NHANES III mortality hazard. ARI far outperforms any of the individual indicators as a linear mortality predictor in NHANES III. The superior performance of ARI also holds for predicting mortality hazard in the independent Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort. Thus, HI, along with BMI and ABSI, can capture the risk profile associated with body size and shape. These can be combined in a risk indicator that utilizes complementary information from height, weight, and waist and hip circumference. The combined ARI is promising for further research and clinical applications.

A Study on Relationship of Body Mass Index (Bmi) and Waist-to-Hip Ratio (Whr) to Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors in Cases and Controls

“…18 In the study done on Turkish adults it was seen that BMI, WHR, WC and HC were significantly correlated with each other and were good predictors for cardiometabolic risk factors. 19 In the study 20 done on Tehranian adults the cut-off for WHR was 0.97 which is in close agreement with present study, the value being 0.96. In the study done on Chinese women it was found that WHR was positively associated with the risk of CHD in both younger and older women, while other indices like BMI and WC were related to CHD risk primarily among younger women.…”

Assessing a new hip index as a risk predictor for diabetes mellitus

“…For example, our study population had approximately the same HI values as the original research (100 vs 100 cm), but surprisingly the present study population had a lower HC (92 vs 99 cm), height (161 vs 166 cm) and weight (61 vs 73 kg). In addition, these z ‐scores for HI, height, BMI and ABSI were found, in both NHANES III and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, to indeed be mutually almost uncorrelated in the original research; however, in the present study, the HI z ‐score was only independent of ABSI (Table ). It is likely that the NHANES III‐derived HI should be modified for application to non‐USA populations.…”

“…In the original research, the normalized value of HI is independent of height, BMI and ABSI, and the researchers believe that HI can be understood as the HC of a given person normalized to a standard height and weight. In the original research, HI showed a U‐shaped relationship to mortality in USA populations. Nevertheless, whether the same coefficients could be used to properly standardize HC for weight and height in populations that might not have the same pattern of body size and shape is unknown, as well as the usefulness of HI for prediction of diabetes mellitus.…”

“…Recently, Krakauer et al . developed a new anthropometric parameter (a new hip index [HI]) based on hip circumference (HC), height and weight.…”

“…developed a new anthropometric parameter (a new hip index [HI]) based on hip circumference (HC), height and weight. The normalized value of the HI is independent of height, body mass index (BMI) and a body shape index (ABSI), and the HI shows a U‐shaped relationship to mortality in the USA population. Furthermore, it is well known that there is an inverse relationship between HC and the risk of diabetes mellitus.…”