Waist-to-hip Ratio Research Articles

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Association between the Prostate Volume and Anthropometric Measurements in a Subset of Adult Nigerian Men with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

Background: Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), a major cause of men`s morbidity, is positively related to obesity, which is assessed using anthropometric measurements. Despite the scarcity of local literature on this relationship, varying associations between prostate volume (PV), age, and anthropometric parameters have been reported. Objectives: To ascertain the average BPH volume, the predominant age at risk for BPH, and any correlations between PV and anthropometric measurements in our community. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 125 men aged 40–80years, with normal prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) levels, at the Radiology department, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, from May 2023 to May, 2024. PV was calculated by transabdominal ultrasonography. Anthropometric measurements were made using set procedures, from which the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHTR) were computed. The data was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel with P value < 0.05. Results: The mean age and PV of participants was 61.6±9.5years and 74.2±52.5ml, respectively with majority, 41 (32.8%) of men in their seventh decade of life. Age and PV did not statistically significantly correlate (P = 0.159); however, BMI, HC, WC and WHTR did (P = 0.000, 0.002, 0.006, and 0.014). Conclusion: The mean sonographic PV was 74.2±52.5ml, with men in their seventh decade being the most at risk for BPH. PV exhibited a statistically significant correlation with some anthropometric parameters but not with respondents' age. The equations and models generated from this study will benefit future research on prostatic growth and early detection of BPH.

The association between anthropometric indices and ischemic heart disease: a large-scale cross-sectional study on the Iranian population

This study aimed to evaluate the superiority of anthropometric indices compared to others for predicting ischemic heart disease (IHD) or cardiometabolic risk factors. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Pars Cohort Study data. In total, 9229 Valashahr inhabitants aged 40–75 were included in the analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analyses was used to compare the predictive accuracy of four anthropometric measures, including body mass index, waist to height ratio (WHtR), waist to hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC). IHD prevalence was 10.4% in our sample. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome was 12.7%, 29.2%, 58.4%, and 22.3%, respectively. All anthropometric indices had poor to good accuracy in predicting IHD risk factors, with AUCs ranging between 0.580 and 0.818. WHR was the most accurate measure for predicting IHD in both genders. All indexes had a better accuracy for predicting DM, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in males than in females. To conclude, anthropometric measures, especially WC and WHtR, are recommended for predicting metabolic syndrome in primary prevention settings. These simple indices could help physicians find those who need further evaluation for MetS.

Association of body shape phenotypes and body fat distribution indexes with inflammatory biomarkers in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) and UK Biobank

BackgroundThe allometric body shape index (ABSI) and hip index (HI), as well as multi-trait body shape phenotypes, have not yet been compared in their associations with inflammatory markers. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between novel and traditional anthropometric indexes with inflammation using data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) and UK Biobank cohorts.MethodsParticipants from EPIC (n = 17,943, 69.1% women) and UK Biobank (n = 426,223, 53.2% women) with data on anthropometric indexes and C-reactive protein (CRP) were included in this cross-sectional analysis. A subset of women in EPIC also had at least one measurement for interleukins, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, leptin, and adiponectin. Four distinct body shape phenotypes were derived by a principal component (PC) analysis on height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist (WC) and hip circumferences (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). PC1 described overall adiposity, PC2 tall with low WHR, PC3 tall and centrally obese, and PC4 high BMI and weight with low WC and HC, suggesting an athletic phenotype. ABSI, HI, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip index (WHI) were also calculated. Linear regression models were carried out separately in EPIC and UK Biobank stratified by sex and adjusted for age, smoking status, education, and physical activity. Results were additionally combined in a random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsTraditional anthropometric indexes, particularly BMI, WC, and weight were positively associated with CRP levels, in men and women. Body shape phenotypes also showed distinct associations with CRP. Specifically, PC2 showed inverse associations with CRP in EPIC and UK Biobank in both sexes, similarly to height. PC3 was inversely associated with CRP among women, whereas positive associations were observed among men.ConclusionsSpecific indexes of body size and body fat distribution showed differential associations with inflammation in adults. Notably, our results suggest that in women, height may mitigate the impact of a higher WC and HC on inflammation. This suggests that subtypes of adiposity exhibit substantial variation in their inflammatory potential, which may have implications for inflammation-related chronic diseases.

The effects of laser acupuncture on metabolic syndrome in obese postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled study

To study the laser acupuncture (LA) effects on postmenopausal obese women’s metabolic syndrome. Randomized controlled trial. Benha university hospital. Thirty postmenopausal women were randomized into two equal groups. Group A received a diet regimen and Group B received LA treatment for 30 min three times a week for two months beside the diet regimen. Included weight (W), body mass index (BMI), waist (WC), hip (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum level of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin (FBI), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) before and after the end of treatment. The study’s findings showed that both groups experienced a highly statistically significant decrease in the post-testing mean value of W, BMI, WC, HC, WHR, SBP, DBP, TC, TG, LDL, FBG, FBI, and HOMA-IR, while both groups experienced a significant increase in the post-treatment mean value of HDL (p 0.0001). The posttreatment SBP, DBP, TC, TG, LDL, FBS, FBI and insulin resistance were significantly lower while HDL was significantly higher in women who received combined LA and diet regimen compared to those who received dietary regimen only. LA beside the nutritional intervention is a physical therapy technique that may be used safely, easily, and effectively to minimize metabolic syndrome features during menopause.

High-Polyphenol Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors Among Adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Polyphenols found in food is a potential modifiable factor in disease prevention, especially when it comes to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to determine the total polyphenol intake from fruits and vegetables (FV) in patients at King of Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and its association with vascular risk biomarkers. A cross-sectional study was done on 151 adult patients with at least one CVD risk factor. Data about demographics, smoking status, physical activity, height and weight, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), disease history, current disease (CD), and amount of polyphenol intake (mg/100 g) from rich polyphenol FV sources were collected. Of the participants, 127 (84.1%) were females, 49 (32.5%) had an age ranging from 45 to 54 years, and 110 (72.8%) were married. Of them, 54 (35.8%) had a bachelor's education, and 64 (42.4%) were employed. Moreover, 89 (59.3%) were physically inactive, 18 (11.9%) were smokers, 105 (69.5%) were obese, 116 (76.9%) had high WC, and 103 (68.2%), 109 (72.2%), and 90 (59.6%) had a family history of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia, respectively. The mean total polyphenol consumption/gm was significantly higher among older and married participants, and patients with HTN had a significantly lower mean total polyphenol consumption/gm. A significant positive correlation was found between the total polyphenol consumption/gm and participants' age. The consumption of polyphenols was associated with age, marital status, and blood pressure. Polyphenols from FV may have a preventive effect against cardiovascular illnesses. Including a range of foods high in polyphenols in a balanced diet is still a potential way to support cardiovascular health.

Evaluation of the relationship between dietary acid load and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes: a case-control study.

Diets high in dietary acid load are thought to be associated with metabolic diseases. However, the number of studies examining the relationship between dietary acid load and metabolic diseases in Turkey is insufficient. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular disease risk factors and dietary acid load in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In this case-control study, 51 participants aged 30-65 years with type 2 diabetes and 59 participants in the control group were included. Blood pressure and biochemical findings were measured. Anthropometric measurements and body composition measurements were made. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day (1 day on weekends, 2 days on weekdays) food consumption record. Dietary acid load scores, including potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP), were calculated based on dietary intake. NEAP and PRAL scores were categorized as low and high according to the median value. Smoking status, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), trigylceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to- height ratio (WtHR), hemoglobin and fat mass (%) were evaluated as cardiovascular risk factors. The cut-off values of PRAL and NEAP were 3.61 and 44.78 mEq/d, respectively. After adjustment for various covariates, a significant positive association between PRAL and TG levels was observed in the diabetic group [odds ratio (OR), 5.98; 95% CI, 1.45-24.67; p = 0.013]. In contrast, a negative association was found between PRAL and SBP in the control group [odds ratio (OR), 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.83; p = 0.026]. However, these associations were not observed for NEAP values in either group. A higher PRAL value was consistently associated with higher TG level, but other cardiovascular risk factors were not. More longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to better establish a causal effect between dietary acid load and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with diabetes.

Waist-based anthropometric measures and central adiposity-related comorbidities in children.

Waist-related measures are commonly used to classify central adiposity and related comorbidities. This classification may be essential among children, as it may identify the risk of future non-communicable diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, among 459 primary school learners aged 9-14 years. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured using standardised techniques recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were computed and evaluated. Most participants were girls (57.70%) with an average age of 11.20 ± 1.60 years. The average weight was 38.81 kg ± 10.49 kg with an average height of 144.16 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 10.37) cm. The sample had a BMI of 18.41 kg/m2(s.d. = 3.19). The results showed, on average, WC of 62.10 cm ± 8.12 cm, WHR of 0.82 ± 0.15 and WHtR of 0.44 ± 0.05. Girls reported significantly higher BMI, WC and WHtR. Based on WHtR, the results showed the acceptable ability to classify children according to abdominal obesity, thus identifying their risk for comorbidities. Overall body fat indicated by BMI and central obesity shown by waist-related anthropometric measures can play a significant role in classifying children in terms of their risk of comorbidities.Contribution:To prevent the risks of metabolic diseases in childhood, it is necessary to detect abdominal obesity early using WC-based anthropometric measurements, especially WHtR, to identify those at risk.

Comparison of novel and traditional anthropometric indices in Eastern-China adults: which is the best indicator of the metabolically obese normal weight phenotype?

BackgroundPeople with the metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) phenotype have been confirmed to significantly increase the risk of unfavorable health consequences. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between traditional and novel anthropometric indices with the MONW phenotype and compare the predictive ability of different anthropometric indices in identifying individuals with the MONW phenotype.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved a total of 26,332 participants aged 18 years or older with a normal weight from Nanjing, China. Sociodemographic information, biochemical measurements, and anthropometric indices were collected. The novel body fat anthropometric indices included body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), abdominal volume index (AVI), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), body adiposity index (BAI), conicity index (CI), waist-hip-height ratio (WHHR), as well as traditional indices such as waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).The prevalence ratio (PR) from modified poisson regression and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were conducted to compare the association and predictive capacity of different obesity indicators for the MONW phenotype. All analyses were stratified by sex.ResultsModified poisson regression analyses revealed that weight, WC, HC, BMI, WHR, WHtR, ABSI, BRI, AVI, WWI, BAI, CI, and WHHR were independently associated with higher risk of the MONW phenotype, regardless of whether they were treated as a continuous or categorical variable (P < 0.05). Notably, BRI demonstrated the strongest association in both men (highest quartile VS lowest quartile; PR = 3.14, 95%CI, 2.49, 3.96; P < 0.001) and women (PR = 4.63, 95%CI, 3.81, 5.62; P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that AUC for the different anthropometric indices ranged from 0.50 to 0.80. BRI and WHtR had the largest AUC in both males (both AUC = 0.733; 95% CI, 0.717, 0.750) and females (both AUC = 0.773; 95% CI, 0.761, 0.786). The optimal cut-off points for BRI, determined by maximizing the Youden’s index, were 3.102 (sensitivity: 63.2%, specificity: 36.2%) in males and 3.136 (sensitivity: 68.9%, specificity: 44.2%) in females. Moreover, BRI and WHtR exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy in younger age groups, specifically those aged 18–34 in both sexes.ConclusionsBRI emerged as the optimal predictor and independent determinant of the MONW phenotype, regardless of gender. This association was particularly pronounced in young individuals.

Efficacy of tryushnadya churna in metabolic syndrome with obesity – A randomized double blind controlled clinical trial

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) with obesity has significant mortality and morbidity. Integrative Ayurveda management is explored for it's possible effect. To evaluate the effect of Tryushnadi churna in the management of Metabolic syndrome with obesity. Study is a Randomized, Controlled, double blind, parallel group comparative clinical trial. 48 participants meeting the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment panel 3 diagnostic criteria were recruited in the study. They were divided in two 2 groups. Placebo group were administered with Placebo 1gm twice a day, Ayurveda diet and yoga. Tryushnadi Group were intervened with Tryushnadi churna 1gm twice a day, Ayurveda diet and yoga. Interventions were for 90 days. Assessments criteria included Weight, BMI,Waist circumference (WC), Waist hip ratio, Skin fold thickness (SFT), Body fat, blood pressure, WHO-QOL BREF scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)- Severity, Global improvement and Efficacy index, Fasting blood sugar (FBS) were assessed on every 30th day. Other blood parameters like Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), Triglycerides, High density lipoproteins (HDL), Low density lipoproteins (LDL), Total cholesterol (TC) were evaluated at pre and post study. Between groups comparison showed, Tryushnadi group had significant improvements in BMI, Weight, WHOQOL-Bref and had large effect size. Both the groups showed improvement in WC, body fat, SFT, CGI severity, CGI efficacy index and improvement in quality of life in within group assessment. Study showed that Tryushnadi churna was effective in management of MetS with Obesity. Integrated management of Ayurveda medicine, Ayurveda diet and yoga had beneficial effect.

Mediterranean Diet in Older Irish Adults: Prevalence, Patterns, Predictors and Pertinence.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) shows the strongest evidence in support of healthy aging and prevention of age-related diseases. It is associated with a decreased risk of chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cognitive disease. Given the health-promoting aspects of this diet, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from the LifeAge study ("Promoting the shift: sedentary Lifestyle towards active Ageing-LifeAge" Project No 603121-EPP-1-2018-1-ES-SPO-SCP) with the primary aim to determine the proportion of older Irish adults adhering to the MD and to examine the association between adherence to the MD (assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) scoring tool) and anthropometric risk factors of non-communicable diseases. Of the 131 eligible participants (71.8% female, n = 94) (medically well, aged > 50 years and physically independent) (mean age = 66.2 ± 6.5 years), the mean cumulative MD score across the cohort was 5.8 ± 2.2, with 41% classified as moderate-to-high MD adherers (scoring > 7 MEDAS). Females had a significantly higher score compared to males (female 6.24 ± 1.98; male 4.86 ± 2.53; p = 0.002). Age (y), waist circumference (cm) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) each had a significant (p < 0.05) weak and negative correlation with MD score (r = -0.193, -0.240, -0.284, respectively). Visceral fat level had a significant (p < 0.05) moderate and negative correlation with MD score (r = -0.327). This analysis is the first to assess adherence to the MD in older Irish adults. MD adherence was lower in the Irish older cohort than that reported in older adults in Mediterranean regions and was adhered to more by females and those with a more favourable anthropometric profile. The health-promoting aspects of the diet are evident in non-Mediterranean regions as is demonstrated by the lesser incidence of some non-communicable diseases in moderate-to-high adherers. With the evidence of the protective effects of the MD, external to Mediterranean regions, it would be helpful to establish limitations to adherence, especially in aging populations living in non-Mediterranean regions.

Association between anthropometric indices and infertility among subfertile women: Insights from a single-centre crosssectional study from Northern Sri Lanka

Background: Obesity is a global concern affecting female fertility, with 6% of never-pregnant women facing fertility challenges due to obesity. This study aims to assess the association between Anthropometric Indices and Infertility Among Sub-fertile Women.Methodology: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 216 infertile women aged 18 years and above attending sub-fertility clinics at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Data collection consisted of an interviewer-administered questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and statistical analysis using SPSS Version 26. Body Mass Index (BMI) was categorised according to Sri Lankan Obesity standards, and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) according to Asian women’s standards.Results: In our study, 72.2% had primary sub-fertility, and 27.8% had secondary sub-fertility. The average age was 33.7 years (SD=7.12), with 38.9% of them older than 35 years, and 56.9% of them seeking therapy within five years of marriage, while 43.1% delayed treatment. Age and sub-fertility types showed a positive association (P=0.003). The majority (70.3%) were overweight, pre-obese, or obese, with 66.7% at risk based on WHR. Primary sub-fertility cases had a higher prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). There were no significant differences in BMI between individuals with PCOS (M=26.473, SD=5.58) and those without PCOS (M=25.23, SD=4.79) (t(214) = 1.701, p=0.90). Similarly, there was no significant difference in WHR between individuals with PCOS (M=0.887, SD=0.65) and those without PCOS (M=0.882, SD=0.83) (t(214) = 0.473, p=0.637).Conclusion: Our findings shows that most participants have elevated BMI and WHR. Despite observed trends, the lack of significant association between PCOS and anthropometric indices indicates that lifestyle, genetics, and hormonal factors may play a huge role in excessive body weight. Achieving optimal body weight through lifestyle changes in reproductive-age women is a cost-effective way to enhance fertility in low-middle-income countries.

Predicting and comparing the long-term impact of lifestyle interventions on individuals with eating disorders in active population: a machine learning evaluation.

This study aims to evaluate and predict the long-term effectiveness of five lifestyle interventions for individuals with eating disorders using machine learning techniques. This study, conducted at Dr. Irandoust's Health Center at Qazvin from August 2021 to August 2023, aimed to evaluate the effects of five lifestyle interventions on individuals with eating disorders, initially diagnosed using The Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS). The interventions were: (1) Counseling, exercise, and dietary regime, (2) Aerobic exercises with dietary regime, (3) Walking and dietary regime, (4) Exercise with a flexible diet, and (5) Exercises through online programs and applications. Out of 955 enrolled participants, 706 completed the study, which measured Body Fat Percentage (BFP), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol (CHO), Weight, and Triglycerides (TG) at baseline, during, and at the end of the intervention. Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Regressors, following feature engineering, were used to analyze the data, focusing on the interventions' long-term effectiveness on health outcomes related to eating disorders. Feature engineering with Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Regressors, respectively, reached an accuracy of 85 and 89%, then 89 and 90% after dataset balancing. The interventions were ranked based on predicted effectiveness: counseling with exercise and dietary regime, aerobic exercises with dietary regime, walking with dietary regime, exercise with a flexible diet, and exercises through online programs. The results show that Machine Learning (ML) models effectively predicted the long-term effectiveness of lifestyle interventions. The current study suggests a significant potential for tailored health strategies. This emphasizes the most effective interventions for individuals with eating disorders. According to the results, it can also be suggested to expand demographics and geographic locations of participants, longer study duration, exploring advanced machine learning techniques, and including psychological and social adherence factors. Ultimately, these results can guide healthcare providers and policymakers in creating targeted lifestyle intervention strategies, emphasizing personalized health plans, and leveraging machine learning for predictive healthcare solutions.

Novel Classification of Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes Reveals Associations Between Mortality and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Insights from the United Kingdom Biobank Study

BackgroundTraditional association studies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) categorizations and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) yielded conflicting findings. We propose a novel classification system based on fundamental characteristics of cardiovascular patients, such as age, body mass index, waist–hip ratio, to more accurately assess the impact of PUFAs (plasma measures) such as omega (ω)-3 (n–3) and ω-6 on mortality in cardiovascular patients. MethodsPrincipal component analysis and k-means clustering were used to determine the CVD subtype. Variables included age, body mass index, waist–hip ratio, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, total triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B:apolipoprotein A1, glycated hemoglobin, creatinine, albumin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count, and hemoglobin concentration. The association of PUFAs with all-cause, cardiovascular, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in patients with CVD was prospectively evaluated using restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional risk models. ResultsAmong the 35,096 participants, 3,786 fatalities occurred. Three distinct CVD subtypes were identified, with cluster 3 characterized by older age, male gender, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, having the highest risk of mortality. Clusters 2 and 3 had the highest DHA and ω-6/ω-3 ratios, respectively, compared with Cluster 1. The protective effects of total PUFAs, ω-3, and DHA were mainly reflected in all-cause mortality and were more significant in clusters 2 and 3. Furthermore, the ω-6/ω-3 ratio of the highest quartile increased risk of all-cause [Q3: hazard ratio (HR): 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.29; Q4: HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.61], CVD (Q4: HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.75), and IHD mortality (Q4: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.03) in cluster 3 compared with the first quartile. ConclusionsOur findings highlight the heterogeneity of associations observed for the same type of PUFAs across distinct clusters. This association may be elucidated by the intricate interplay of various factors, encompassing inflammation, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular health.

Obesity and its association with self-efficacy and metabolic risk factors by region of birth among 40-year-olds participating in the Swedish targeted health dialogues

ObjectiveTargeted Health Dialogues (THD) is a public health intervention program that aims at preventing cardiovascular disease. THDs were implemented in the Swedish region Scania, in 2020, with the novelty of being conducted in a metropolitan area with a multiethnic population.This study investigated the prevalence of obesity among 40-year-old THD participants in Scania by region of birth, and its associations with self-efficacy and additional metabolic risk factors. MethodsCross-sectional data were retrieved from measurements in the THDs. Study participants included 1831 40-year-olds. Differences in characteristics by region of birth were assessed using chi-squared and ANOVA tests. The associations between overweight, obesity, and high waist-hip ratio (WHR) and self-efficacy and metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, plasma glucose) were assessed using binominal and ordinal logistic regression, adjusted for sex and education and tested for interactions by region of birth. Results35.1 % of the participants were overweight (BMI 25–29.9), and 18.7 % were obese (BMI ≥30) with the highest levels among participants born outside Sweden (p = 0.005). Abdominal obesity was also more prevalent among participants born outside Sweden (p = 0.002). Obesity was associated with increased odds of having low self-efficacy (OR per BMI-level: 1.48 (CI 1.24–1.76) and additional metabolic risk factors. No interactions with region of birth were detected. ConclusionsThe prevalence of obesity differed between region of birth and obesity was associated with having low self-efficacy. These findings underline the need to customise lifestyle interventions in a multiethnic population to increase health equity.

Relationships between obesity and prevalence of gout in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional population-based study

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between generalized, abdominal, and visceral fat obesity and the prevalence of gout in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsData were obtained from the electronic medical databases of the National Metabolic Management Center (MMC) of Yuhuan Second People’s Hospital and Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital) between September 2017 and June 2023. Four obesity indicators were analyzed: waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), and visceral fat area (VFA). The relationships between these parameters and gout prevalence were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the four parameters for gout.ResultsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 10,535 participants (600 cases and 9,935 controls). Obesity was more common in patients with gout, and the obesity indicators were markedly higher in this group. After adjustment for confounders, obesity, as defined by BMI, WC, WHR, and VFA, was found to be associated with greater gout prevalence, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.775, 1.691, 1.858, and 1.578, respectively (P < 0.001). The gout odds ratios increased markedly in relation to the obesity indicator quartiles (P-value for trend < 0.001), and the obesity indicators were positively correlated with gout prevalence, as shown using RCS. The area under the ROC curve values for BMI, WC, WHR, and VFA were 0.629, 0.651, 0.634, and 0.633, respectively.ConclusionObesity—whether general, abdominal, or visceral fat obesity—was positively linked with elevated gout risk. But uncovering the causality behind the relationship requires further prospective study. Obesity indicators (BMI, WC, WHR, and VFA) may have potential value for diagnosing gout in clinical practice.

Health determinants among participants in targeted health dialogues offered to all 40-year-old individuals in a metropolitan region of 1.4 million people

Objective To examine cardiovascular risk factors in 40-year-old participants in the health screening program targeted health dialogues (THDs). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting 99 Swedish healthcare centers. Intervention Metabolic risk factors and health behaviors were assessed. THDs were provided. Subjects 1831 (62.3%) THD participants that consented to take part in the research project. Main outcome measures (1) Prevalence of metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, BMI, waist-hip ratio) and unhealthy behaviors (tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity) by sex, education, and place of birth. (2) Associations between different health behaviors and between the number of unhealthy behaviors and prevalence of metabolic risk factors. (3) THD participation by sociodemographics compared to age-matched controls. Results Men had a higher prevalence of all metabolic risk factors, excessive alcohol use and tobacco use than women. Lower educated individuals had a higher prevalence of metabolic risk factors (except for LDL cholesterol) and tobacco use than highly educated. Participants born outside Sweden had a higher prevalence of obesity, high waist-hip ratio, and tobacco use. Participants with 3–4 unhealthy behaviors had significantly higher prevalence of each of the metabolic risk factors except BMI. Women, highly educated and Swedish-born participants were slightly over-represented in the THDs. Conclusion Considering the associations between unhealthy behaviors and metabolic risk factors, the THD method, covering lifestyle as well as objective health measures, may be an appropriate method for early identification of individuals at risk for future non-communicable diseases in the whole population with a specific focus on certain groups. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04912739

Associations of childhood and adulthood body size, and child-to-adult body size change with adult telomere length.

To comprehensivelyexamine the associations of childhood and adulthood body size, and child-to-adult body size change with adult leucocyte telomere length (LTL). We included 453 602 participants from the UK Biobank. Childhood body size at the age of 10 years was collected through a questionnaire. Adulthood body size was assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Individuals with plumper body size in childhood exhibited shorter LTL in adulthood (-0.0086 [-0.0017, -0.0004]). Adulthood BMI (-0.0286 [-0.0315, -0.0258]), WC (-0.0271 [-0.0303, -0.0238]), WHR (-0.0269 [-0.0308, -0.0230]) and FMI (-0.0396 [-0.0438, -0.0351]) were negatively associated with LTL, whereas FFMI (0.0095 [0.0039, 0.0152]) was positively associated with LTL. Compared to individuals consistently having an average/normal weight in both childhood and adulthood, those who maintained or developed overweight/obesity from childhood to adulthood had a shorter adult LTL, regardless of childhood body size. Notably, the LTL shortening effect was not observed in individuals with plumper body size in childhood but normal weight in adulthood. Childhood and adulthood obesity are both associated with LTL shortening in adulthood. Transitioning to or maintaining overweight/obese status from childhood to adulthood is associated with shorter adult LTL, whereas this effect can be reversed if plumper children become normal weight.

The Role of Neck Circumference as a Screening Tool for Obesity in Female Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western Maharashtra.

The rising prevalence of obesity has become a global public health crisis. Traditional screening tools like body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) have limitations, prompting the need for simpler, more effective alternatives. Neck circumference (NC) has emerged as a promising tool due to its simplicity, affordability, and reliability. The study aimed to evaluate neck circumference as a screening tool for obesity among female adults, alongside measuring BMI, waist-to-hipratio (WHR), WC, and NC, and establishing NC cut-off values using body fat percentage as the gold standard. Additionally, it sought to compare the predictive accuracy of these measures for assessing obesity. This cross-sectional study, conducted from March 2023 to October 2023, involved 362 female students from a health sciences university in Western Maharashtra, India. The participants provided informed consent and underwent anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, and neck circumference. Body fat percentage, measured using a bioimpedance analyzer, served as the reference standard. The study identified a neck circumference (NC) cut-off of 31.3 cm using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, showing robust sensitivity (71.23%) and specificity (79.02%) for detecting obesity defined by body fat percentage. Waist circumference (WC) showed the highest sensitivity (73.97%) for diagnosing obesity in females, followed by NC (71.23%). Neck circumference is a practical, cost-effective, and reliable screening tool for obesity, offering advantages over traditional methods. Its noninvasive nature and ease of measurement make it suitable for large-scale screening, contributing to the early detection and management of obesity-related health risks. This study supports the inclusion of NC in routine clinical assessments and public health initiatives.

Hypertension care cascade and their determinants among older adolescents in India: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Adolescent hypertension in India is an emergent public health concern with lack of programmatic focus on regular screening amongst both individuals and healthcare providers. This study was conducted to assess the hypertension care cascade (prevalence, awareness, treatment and control status of hypertension) from nationally representative data. We used data from the demographic and health surveillance (DHS) comprising India's National Family Health Survey Fifth Round (2019-2021). The prevalence of hypertension among 204,054 older adolescents (15-19 years) was 5.08% (95% CI: 4.94-5.23%) wherein 42.26% (95% CI: 40.69-43.64%) were aware of their condition, 43.70% (95% CI: 41.73-45.70%) of those aware were receiving treatment, and 85.88% (95% CI: 83.83-87.71%) of those on treatment achieved blood pressure control. Overall, there were nearly 60% newly diagnosed hypertension cases detected on screening. Females had significantly lower odds, while those with diabetes and higher waist-hip ratio had significantly higher odds of having hypertension. The awareness of their hypertensive status was higher among females and rural residents, while it was lower among adolescents that were obese and tobacco smokers. Improved blood pressure control was associated with a lower waist-to-hip ratio. In conclusion, nearly five in every hundred older adolescents in India are clinically hypertensive with significantly higher odds linked with obesity and male gender. Awareness and utilization of antihypertensive treatment was lower than the classical rule of halves signifying deficiencies in hypertension screening and management strategies for older adolescents within the existing public health policy framework.

Analysis of Waist-to-Hip Ratio with Total Cholesterol Levels in Obese and Non-Obese Employees at El Tari Airport Kupang

Increased cholesterol levels are one of the causes of obesity. One type of obesity is central obesity, characterized by the amount of accumulation of fat in the abdominal area. Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) measurement is more potent than Body Mass Index (BMI) in predicting cardiovascular disease risk. WHR is also used to identity the occurrence of central obesity, which is a risk factor for elevated cholesterol levels. This study aimed to analyze the difference in total cholesterol levels in the group of normal and above normal WHR employees at El Tari Airport, Kupang. This study was an observational analytic type with the cross-sectional method and used venous blood samples to measure total cholesterol levels and WHR. Data analysis using independent sample t-test. The results of the independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in total cholesterol levels between obese employees (above normal WHR) and non-obese employees (normal WHR). The significance result is 0.027 (p &lt; 0.05) in the independent sample t-test. This indicates that WHR can be used to identify central obesity in a person and also person with above normal WHR tend to have high total cholesterol levels.