Waist-to-hip Ratio In Females Research Articles

A comparison of the different anthropometric indices for assessing malnutrition among older people in Turkey: a large population-based screening

ObjectiveDue to an increase in aging worldwide, assessment of the nutritional status of older people becomes an important matter. Malnutrition in older people increases the risk of infections, disease period and hospitalization rates. This study aimed to compare the different anthropometric indices for detecting malnutrition among older people and comparing these indices among males and females to explain the possible differences.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 2721 aged 65 years and older in Turkey were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements weight, height, hip circumference (HC), and waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), calf circumference (CC)) were measured. Body mass index (BMI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body roundness index (BRI) and body adiposity index (BAI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) indices were calculated using standardized formulas. The receiver operator characteristic curves (ROCs) were conducted in detecting the best anthropometric parameters. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) (stratified by sex) calculated for each anthropometric index.ResultsParticipants with both BMI < 18.5 (1.1%) and BMI > 25 (80%) defined as the malnourished group and BMI of 18.5–24.99 (18.9%) defined as the normal group. In both sexes, the area under the curve (AUC) was > 0.7 for all anthropometric indices except WHR in females (AUC 0.66). BRI, WHR, WHtR, and AVI indices strongly predict the risk of malnutrition among both sexes. In males, the ORs were for BRI (6.83, 95% CI 5.39–8.66), WHR (6.43, 95% CI 5.9–6.9), AVI (2.02, 95% CI 1.86–2.12). In females, the ORs were for BRI (3.72, 95% CI 3.09–4.48), WtHR (2.63, 95% CI 1.3–3.5), and WHR (2.45, 95% CI 1.9–3.06).DiscussionThe presence of a large AUC in almost all anthropometric indices suggests that they can be used to assess the risk of malnutrition among older persons in both sexes.

Racial/ethnic Differences in Body Composition Measures and Exercise Parameters in the TIGER Study (P21-046-19)

ObjectivesAlthough current adult anthropometric cut points (e.g., BMI, waist circumference (WC), etc.) are applied universally, a growing body of research suggests that these measures, along with their relation to body fat percentage, may differ across racial/ethnic groups. In this study we investigated the presence of racial/ethnic differences among anthropometric measures and exercise parameters. Racial/ethnic specific prediction of body fat percentage (DXA-BF%) by these body composition measures was also examined. MethodsData from 1789 participants from the Training Intervention and Genetics of Exercise Response (TIGER) Study (n = 1154 females, 635 males) were used. Subjects underwent 15 weeks of aerobic exercise training at 65–85% heart rate reserve. Only subjects who completed the protocol were included in these analyses. One-way ANOVA and multivariate regression, stratified by gender, were used to compare the relationship between race/ethnicity, DXA-BF%, and body composition. ResultsBoth African American (AA) males and females exhibited lower levels of DXA-BF% per unit BMI, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) when compared to NHW. Similarly, Hispanic White (H) of both genders showed less DXA-BF% per unit BMI and WC compared to NHW. AA and H males also showed significantly lower levels of DXA-BF% per unit waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Conversely, Asian Indians of both genders had higher levels of DXA-BF% per unit BMI, WC, and HC compared to NHW. Asians also had greater levels of DXA-BF% compared to NHW, with significant differences in HC for both genders and WHR in females. Racial/ethnic differences were observed among females for exercise duration, with AA (37.9 ± 3.9 minutes; P < 0.05), H (38.9 ± 4.0 minutes; P < 0.001), and Asians (38.9 ± 5.4 minutes; P < 0.01) all having significantly longer duration compared to NHW (37.1 ± 3.5 minutes). In males, values for exercise heart rate (AA 154.3 ± 7.6 bpm; H 157.7 ± 8.3 bpm; P < 0.05) and intensity (AA 66.6 ± 5.6%; H 69.4 ± 6.0%; P < 0.01) were significantly lower in AA compared to H. ConclusionsOur data provide evidence of racial/ethnic biases in anthropometric measures and their relationship to DXA-BF%, further supporting the need for race/ethnicity-specific cut points. Significant racial/ethnic differences in exercise parameters were also observed. Funding SourcesTIGER Study funded by NIH/NIDDK.

Inter-relationship of serum leptin levels with selected anthropometric parameters among a non-diabetic population: a cross-sectional study.

Association between serum leptin levels and anthropometric parameter is well established in western countries according to the specific WHO cut-off values assigned for those populations, whereas it is not clearly defined for Asians especially with respect to gender. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine the relationship of serum leptin levels with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) to identify the variations of serum leptin levels with gender and to evaluate the serum leptin levels in risk and non-risk groups based on their anthropometric values. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 226 apparently healthy subjects (non-diabetics, age 20-70years). Height, weight, WC, hip circumference (HC) and mid arm circumference (MAC) were measured. BMI, WHR, waist to height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Fasting blood samples were collected. Serum leptin levels were measured using human leptin ELISA kits. Majority of the participants were females (59.3%). Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in females (24.8±17.1ng/mL) compared to males (9.3±7.9ng/mL). Significant positive correlations (P<0.05) were observed between serum leptin levels and all anthropometric parameters except height in both genders. The risk groups according to BMI, WC and WHR in females were hyperleptinaemic and had significantly (P<0.05) higher serum leptin levels than the non-risk groups. Linear trend was observed for serum leptin levels with weight, BMI, WC, HC, WHR, MAC and WHtR in both genders. Though the serum leptin levels were higher among risk groups, according to WHR, WC and BMI, the hyperleptinaemia was observed only among females. A descriptive cross-sectional study, Level V.

Preference for women's body mass and waist-to-hip ratio in Tsimane' men of the Bolivian Amazon: biological and cultural determinants.

The issue of cultural universality of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) attractiveness in women is currently under debate. We tested men's preferences for female WHR in traditional society of Tsimane'(Native Amazonians) of the Bolivian rainforest (N = 66). Previous studies showed preferences for high WHR in traditional populations, but they did not control for the women's body mass.We used a method of stimulus creation that enabled us to overcome this problem. We found that WHR lower than the average WHR in the population is preferred independent of cultural conditions. Our participants preferred the silhouettes of low WHR, but high body mass index (BMI), which might suggest that previous results could be an artifact related to employed stimuli. We found also that preferences for female BMI are changeable and depend on environmental conditions and probably acculturation (distance from the city). Interestingly, the Tsimane' men did not associate female WHR with age, health, physical strength or fertility. This suggests that men do not have to be aware of the benefits associated with certain body proportions - an issue that requires further investigation.

Human body morphology, prevalence of nasopharyngeal potential bacterial pathogens, and immunocompetence handicap principal

Body height, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are the main traits characterizing human body morphology. Studies show that these traits are related to attractiveness and, therefore, according to an evolutionary point of view, are supposed to be honest signals of biological quality. If the immunocompetence handicap principal (IHP) is true, people with more attractive values of these traits should be more immunologically competent. To test this, we analyzed whether nasal and throat colonization with potentially pathogenic bacteria is related to body height and BMI in both sexes and to WHR in females. 103 healthy females and 90 healthy males (with the mean age of 21.4 and 22.8, respectively) participated in the study. The heights and weights were self-reported and waist and hip circumferences measured. Six potentially pathogenic species (with the most common Staphylococcus aureus) isolated from nasal and throat swabs were identified by colony morphology, standard biochemical assays, and latex tests. To compare carrier and noncarrier individuals, Kruskal-Wallis test was used. Colonized males had higher BMI than non-colonized males (no difference for females) and colonized females had lower WHR's. Body height was not related to colonization in either sex. We confirmed our hypothesis only for BMI in males. This result and a higher WHR in non-colonized females indicate higher immunocompetence of those who bear the costs of higher levels of testosterone, which according to previous studies is correlated negatively to BMI in males and positively to WHR in females.

Assessment of Waist-to-Hip Ratio Attractiveness in Women: An Anthropometric Analysis of Digital Silhouettes

The low proportion of waist to hip size in females is a unique and adaptive human feature. In contemporary human populations, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is negatively associated with women’s health, fecundity, and cognitive ability. It is, therefore, hypothesized that men will prefer women with low WHR. Although this prediction is supported by many studies, considerable disagreement persists about which WHR values are the most attractive and the importance of WHR for attractiveness of the female body. Unfortunately, the methods applied thus far are flawed in several ways. In the present study, we investigated male preferences for female WHR using a high precision assessment procedure and digitally manufactured, high quality, anthropometrically informed stimuli which were disentangled from body mass covariation. Forty men were requested to choose the most attractive silhouette consecutively from six series (2 levels of realism × 3 levels of body mass), each consisting of 26 female images that varied in WHR (from .60 to .85 by .01). Substantial inter-individual variation in the choices made was observed. Nevertheless, low and average WHR values were chosen more frequently than above-average values or values below the normal variation of the trait. This preference pattern mirrors the relationship between WHR and mate value, suggesting that the preferences are adaptive.

Post-exercise systolic blood pressure recovery and adiposity in adults

To determine the incidence of abnormal or delayed systolic blood pressure recovery (SBPR) in relation to the level of adiposity in the adult population; the risk of delayed SBPR in overweight/obese adults relative to their non-overweight/obese controls; and the best predictor of third-minute systolic blood pressure (SBP) ratio and delayed SBPR among four obesity indices – body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Two hundred and ninety-six apparently healthy adults aged 18–48 years participated in the study. Anthropometric variables were measured, and subjects performed cycle ergometer exercise at 80% age-predicted maximum heart rate. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were measured before and during exercise. BP was further measured immediately after exercise and subsequently at 2 min intervals until recovery to resting position. The incidence and risk of delayed SBPR were higher in the overweight/obese individuals than those in the non-overweight/obese controls. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that BMI in males and WHtR and WHR in females had the strongest relationships (P &lt; 0.05) with post-exercise SBPR. WHtR and BMI had the strongest associations with increased risk of delayed SBPR in the non-overweight/obese and the overweight/obese individuals, respectively. The present findings suggest that WHtR in the non-obese individuals and BMI in the overweight/obese individuals may be the best obesity variables for the prediction of abnormal post-exercise SBP response. Our findings further suggest that a reduction in body weight through healthy activities such as exercise may reduce the incidence and increased risk of delayed SBPR and its associated cardiovascular risks.

Inter-relationship of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI) and subcutaneous fat with blood pressure among university-going Punjabi Sikh and Hindu females

Different anthropometric measurements such as body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist and hip circumferences (WC and HC) and skin fold thickness are the important indicator to investigate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the interrelationship between blood pressures with body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and subcutaneous fat. Three hundred university-going Punjabi Sikh and Hindu females were surveyed for blood pressures, pulse rate, height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, four skin folds (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac). All these measurements were taken from each subject using standard procedure. The relation between blood pressure and different anthropometric variables were assessed in multiple regression models. No significant differences of all the measured mean values of the traits have found between these two groups. However, further analysis of the data showed that BMI, WHR and skin folds measurements have significant (p < 0.05) effect on blood pressure phenotypes. The results of the present cross-sectional study indicated that BMI and WHR would be the good predictors for the chronic disease like hypertension. Primarily among female WHR should be used as a good predictor for elevated blood pressure. Key words: Waist and hip circumferences, body mass index, blood pressure, Punjabi female.

Association of heart rate recovery after exercise with indices of obesity in healthy, non-obese adults

We aimed at determining whether body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are associated with heart rate recovery (HRR) and to demonstrate which of the three indices of obesity, is the strongest predictor of HRR in apparently healthy non-obese adults. Three hundred and twenty-five subjects aged 18-66 years participated in the study. Anthropometric indices were measured, and subjects performed cycle ergometer exercise at 75-85% maximum heart rate. Heart rate (HR) was measured during the last minute of exercise and in the first minute of post-exercise recovery. A partial correlation test and a multiple linear regression analysis, after adjusting for age and peak oxygen uptake indicated that the best predictors of HRR were BMI in males and WHR in females. The present data suggest that, HRR is independently related to indices of obesity-BMI, WC, and WHR and strengthen the usefulness of these anthropometric indices in predicting cardiovascular risks. In addition, the findings suggest that BMI in men and WHR in women best express the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular risks.

Appropriate cutoff values of anthropometric variables to predict cardiovascular outcomes: 7.6 years follow-up in an Iranian population

To determine cutoff points of anthropometric variables for predicting incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Iranian adults. It is a population-based longitudinal study. A total of 1614 men and 2006 women, aged > or =40 years, free of CVD at baseline were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and cardiovascular risks were assessed. Incident CVD was ascertained over a median of 7.6 years follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were calculated for 1 s.d. change in all obesity variables using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used as the method of defining the points of the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity (MAXss) of each variable as a predictor of CVD. We found 333 CVD events during follow-up. The risk-factor-adjusted HRs were significant for all anthropometric variables in males and WHR in females and were 1.19, 1.24, 1.21 and 1.24 for BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR in males and 1.27 for WHR in females, respectively (all P<0.05). ROC analysis showed the highest area under curve (AUC) for WHR, WHtR and WC, followed by BMI in males and both genders aged< or =60 years. In females, WHR and WHtR had the highest AUC, followed by WC and BMI. Among those >60 years old, all the anthropometric variables showed same CVD predicting power. The cutoff values (MAXss) for CVD prediction in males and females were BMIs 26.95 and 29.19 kg m(-2),WCs 94.5 and 94.5 cm, WHRs 0.95 and 0.90, and WHtR 0.55 and 0.62, respectively. There was no difference between central obesity variables in predicting CVD in males, whereas in females WHR and WHtR were more appropriate. The cutoff values of anthropometric variables were higher in the Iranian than in other Asian populations.

Men's preferences for women's profile waist-to-hip ratio in two societies

Women's waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) varies with age, and a lower WHR is associated with a higher estrogen-to-androgen ratio and possibly higher fecundity, at least in some populations. Consequently, it has been argued that selection has favored a universal male preference for a low female WHR. In previous studies using frontal pictures, men in the United States preferred a low WHR of 0.7, but men among Hadza hunter–gatherers and a few other small-scale societies preferred higher ratios. Unlike the actual WHR of women, measured with a tape around the waist and the hips and buttocks, the WHR in frontal pictures excludes the buttocks. Because frontal WHR gives only a partial picture, we used profile views of women to measure men's preferences for the profile WHR. Hadza men preferred a lower profile WHR (more protruding buttocks) than American men. Since Hadza men preferred higher frontal WHR but lower profile WHR, and since both contribute to the actual WHR, these results imply there is less disparity between American and Hadza preferences for the actual WHR of real women. We suggest men's preferences vary with the geographic variation in the shape of women who have wider hips in some populations and more protruding buttocks in others.

Judging female figures: A new methodological approach to male attractiveness judgments of female waist-to-hip ratio

The procedure in previous research on attractiveness judgments of female waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) presumably supported an elaborate, effortful and deliberate decision process. In contrast, motivated by evolutionary psychological considerations about the psychological mechanism underlying attractiveness judgments of female WHR, the present study differed from previous research inasmuch as: (a) the participants were uninformed in advance about the various female figures; (b) the exposure time of the female figures was very brief; (c) trials were presented in rapid succession; (d) the participants were instructed to judge spontaneously; (e) forced-choice preference judgments and their underlying judgment times were registered. The results confirmed previous research that men prefer a normal weight figure with a .7 WHR. Additionally, judgments in favor of this figure were made most rapidly. Finally, attractiveness judgments and judgment times were found to be more closely related to those for health than for fecundity or pregnancy judgments.

The influence of age of the face and the waist to hip ratio on judgements of female attractiveness and traits

Abstract Various studies have established that the waist to hip ratio (WHR) influences perceptions of female attractiveness. The present study investigated the assumption that ageing of the face will exert a greater influence than WHR in ratings of female attractiveness, when WHR in females is manipulated within the normal range (0.67–0.85). In a within subjects design, 100 participants (mean age 23.4 years) rated 27 photographs on the following scales: youthfulness, attractiveness, fertility, healthiness, fecundity (likelihood of being pregnant), attractive to the opposite sex, a good mother and sexiness. The photographs had been digitally manipulated in terms of three levels of age of the face (young, middle, older: range around 20–40 years) and three levels of WHR (low, medium, high). Regressional analyses indicated that although WHR was found to have a significant influence on all the above attributes, the age of the face was found to have a greater effect. Results are interpreted in terms of age being a sexually selected trait providing potential mates with information concerning phenotypic and genetic quality.