Measurements of Adiposity and Body Composition
10.7570/kjo.2016.25.3.115
- Author:
Chong Hwa KIM
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. drangelkr@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Adiposity;
Body composition;
Measurement
- MeSH:
Absorptiometry, Photon;
Adipose Tissue;
Adiposity;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Body Composition;
Body Mass Index;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Electric Impedance;
Ethnic Groups;
Female;
Humans;
Insulin Resistance;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Methods;
Mortality;
Obesity;
Obesity, Abdominal;
Overweight;
Reference Values;
Risk Factors;
Waist Circumference;
World Health Organization
- From:Korean Journal of Obesity
2016;25(3):115-120
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Obesity is defined as an excess accumulation of body fat. Measuring body fat accurately is difficult, and no method is easily available for routine clinical use. Common methods of exploring the levels of adiposity include body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance analysis, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Traditionally, overweight or obese status has been evaluated by anthropometric measurement of weight-for-height. More recently, BMI has been used. The normal range is 19-24.9 kg/m², overweight is 25-29.9 kg/m², and obese is ≥30 kg/m². However, the appropriateness of this definition among Asian individuals has been questioned. Asian individuals generally have a higher percentage of body fat than do Western individuals at the same BMI levels. Consequently, for the Korean population, overweight status is defined based on an increase in morbidity and obesity based on an increase in mortality; overweight is defined as a BMI of 23-24.9 kg/m² and obese as a BMI ≥25 kg/m². Simple anthropometric measurements can be used, such as waist circumference. A waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women is a risk factor for insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the waist circumference (WC) cutoff for Asians was suggested as 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women, respectively, which was different from that of other ethnic groups, such as Europeans. For Koreans, abdominal obesity is defined as a WC ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women.
