Newsletter Highlight :
By Prof. Suzanne C Ho, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong
The HKEA Newsletter 2000, 1(2), p.7.
BODY MEASUREMENTS AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
IN THE HONG KONG ADULT POPULATION
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Obesity is an increasing worldwide health problem. Previous studies have shown consistently both absolute total fat and adipose tissue distributions are closely associated with cardiovascular risks such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Studies have also shown that fat distribution, rather than absolute total fat, was more closely associated with these risk factors, especially insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. |
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Body
mass index (BMI) is the most well known anthropometric measurement
on general obesity. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a simple measurement
and is so far the most widely used index of central fat distribution.
Another simple measurement, waist circumference (WC), has recently
been shown to be related to cardiovascular risks. This
presentation aims to present some observations in the local population
the degree of association of central obesity (WHR, WC) and general
obesity (BMI) with cardiovascular risks - plasma lipids profiles,
glucose, insulin levels, and blood pressure; and to clarify which
of the three anthropometric indices are most closely associated
with the cardiovascular risk profiles; and to determine if the association
varies with gender. Data
based on population-based studies show that all three measurements
are good |
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