Here's why waist-to-height ratio matters more than BMI in obesity diagnosis

A 2023 Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal, estimated that 101 million people in India were diabetic in 2021, and about 315 million had hypertension the same year. Further, 254 million were estimated to have obesity and 185 million estimated to have high levels of LDL or 'bad' cholesterol, according to the study.

Synopsis

Researchers have introduced a new diagnostic approach for obesity, focusing on waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI to better assess health risks linked to abdominal fat. Published in Nature Medicine and led by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), the framework highlights a waist-to-height ratio exceeding 0.5 as indicative of heightened cardiometabolic risks. By broadening criteria beyond BMI, the framework aims to improve early detection and treatment strategies, potentially revolutionizing how obesity-related health risks are managed in clinical settings.

By ET Online

Jul 06, 2024, 02:26:00 PM IST

According to some researchers, they have come up with a new diagnostic framework to understand and study obesity. The new diagnostic framework emphasizing waist-to-height ratio as a crucial indicator of health risks associated with abdominal fat accumulation. Published in Nature Medicine, this framework challenges traditional BMI-based assessments, aiming to provide more accurate health evaluations.

Framework Introduction
The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) spearheaded the development of this new framework. According to the authors, incorporating waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI provides a more comprehensive understanding of obesity-related health risks. They underscore the significance of a waist-to-height ratio exceeding 0.5 as a marker for heightened cardiometabolic risks.

Scientific Rationale
Researchers emphasize that abdominal fat distribution, as indicated by waist-to-height ratio, is a superior predictor of health complications compared to BMI alone. They criticize current guidelines for primarily relying on BMI thresholds, which may overlook individuals with significant abdominal fat but lower BMI values.

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Impact on Diagnosis and Treatment
The adoption of waist-to-height ratio in diagnostic criteria aims to address these limitations. By broadening the criteria beyond BMI, the framework seeks to improve early detection and treatment strategies for individuals at risk of cardiometabolic diseases due to abdominal fat accumulation.

"The choice of introducing waist-to-height ratio, instead of waist circumference, in the diagnostic process is due to its superiority as a cardiometabolic disease risk marker," stated the authors representing EASO. They argue that this shift will help in identifying individuals who are currently overlooked by BMI-centric guidelines.

Looking forward, the implementation of this new framework could revolutionize obesity management. By focusing on waist-to-height ratio, healthcare providers can better tailor interventions to mitigate health risks associated with obesity-related abdominal fat.

(With inputs from PTI)