Adiponectin, anthropometric parameters including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, waist, hip circumferences and waist/hip ratio were recorded in 48 male and 166 female overweight and obese Thai volunteers (BMI=25.0 kg/m(2)), and in 26 male and 81 female normal subjects (BMI=18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)). Thai volunteers were investigated. Statistically significantly lower adiponectin concentrations in overweight and obese subjects were found when compared with control subjects of both sexes. Anthropometric parameters, including weight, height, BMI, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, waist, hip circumferences and waist/hip ratio, except arm span, were statistically significantly higher in overweight and obese subjects than in control subjects. The overweight and obese subjects had higher glucose concentrations than the control subjects. The BMI and glucose concentrations were found to be significantly related, under these conditions, to adiponectin.