Novel and traditional anthropometric indices for identifying metabolic syndrome in non-overweight/obese adults

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in non-overweight/obese people is insidiously associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Novel anthropometric indices can reflect central obesity better than the traditional anthropometric indices. Therefore, we hypothesize that these newly developed anthropometric indices can better identify MetS in non-overweight/obese people than conventional indices. Methods: Cross-sectional data of sociodemographic, biochemical and anthropometric indices were collected from 2916 non-overweight/obese Chinese people. A body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) and abdominal volume index (AVI) were calculated. Partial correlation analysis was used to clarify the correlation between anthropometric indices and MetS variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association between anthropometric indices and MetS and its components. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the diagnostic ability of anthropometric indices for MetS and its components. The area under curve (AUC) difference between WHtR and each new anthropometric index was compared in pairs.Results: After adjusting for covariates, AVI had the optimal ability of identifying MetS (AUC: 0.743 for male, 0.819 for female) and the strongest correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (coe: -0.227 for male, -0.207 for female) and the highest odds rations (OR) with low HDL-C group (male: OR=1.37, female: OR=1.55). The WHtR was comparable to BRI in assessing MetS (AUC: 0.739 for male, 0.817 for female). WHtR or BRI could also well identify hypertension (AUC: 0.602 for male, 0.688 for female) and dysglycemia (AUC: 0.669 for male, 0.713 for female) and female's high triglyceride level (AUC 0.712). The recognition ability of the two was equivalent. The ability of ABSI and WWI to identify MetS was weak.Conclusions: AVI is the optimal anthropometric indices to identify MetS in non-overweight/obese Chinese adults. BRI and WHtR can also be considered as discriminators, while ABSI and WWI are weak discriminators. WHtR is easy to measure. So, it is recommended as an early preliminary screening method for the MetS in non-overweight/obese people.

Sex Difference in the Associations among Obesity-Related Indices with Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…An increase in the prevalence of obesity has been reported in most Asian countries during the last two decades [29]. Several studies among different populations have shown that obesity-related indices can be used to predict MetS [11,13,14,30]. Xia et al demonstrated that LAP is a powerful marker of IR among people without diabetes [31].…”

“…Anthropometric indices such as waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), conicity index (CI), body mass index (BMI), body roundness index (BRI), body adiposity index (BAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), abdominal volume index (ABSI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), abdominal volume index (AVI) and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) can easily be calculated and quantified using factors such as triglycerides (TGs), body height (BH), hip circumference (HC), waist circumference (WC) and body weight (BW) [10]. These indices have been reported to be effective indicators of MetS in nonoverweight/obese adults, vegetarians and in Nigeria [11][12][13][14]. We recently identified associations between these obesity-related indices and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and heavy metals [15,16].…”

Obesity, Mediterranean Diet, and Public Health: A Vision of Obesity in the Mediterranean Context from a Sociocultural Perspective

“…The syndrome feeds into the spread of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary diseases, stroke, and other disabilities. The total cost of the malady, including the cost of health care and loss of potential economic activity, is in the trillions [ 5 ].…”