The alarm and action levels of waist circumference in overweight and obese Turkish women

SummaryObjectiveTo determine ‘alarm and action levels’ of waist circumference (WC) in overweight and obese Turkish women and investigate the relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.Research subjects and methodsFour thousand three hundred and seventy-five women aged 18–81 years selected from Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Obesity outpatient clinic. WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index [(BMI) (weight (kg)/height (m2))], blood pressure, and biochemical parameters were analyzed.ResultsThere was strong correlation between BMI and WC levels (r: 0.852). The regression equation which describes this correlation [WC = 1.68 × BMI (kg/m2) + 39.2 ± 1.6] was applied to 500 random samples in order to define alarm and action levels for WC. Our results indicated that alarm level of WC at BMI 25 kg/m2 is 81 cm and action level of WC at BMI 30 kg/m2 is 90 cm. Validating samples were divided into three groups: group I (WC levels below 81 cm, n: 421), group II (WC levels between 81 and 90 cm, n: 718), group III (WC levels above 90 cm, n: 2736) and further correlative analyses were performed. Strong differences within alarm and action groups in terms of cardiovascular risk factors were identified. The prevalence and mean values of cardiovascular risk factors significantly increased with WC. In group 1 one or more risk factor prevalence was 64.8%, whereas in groups 2 and 3 prevalence was increased to 76.8 and 89%, respectively.ConclusionTurkish women with WC greater than 81 cm should gain no further weight and those greater than 90 cm should reduce their weight.