Obesity related Factors in Middle Aged Women: Comparison of Body Mass Index and/or Waist Circumference as Measures of Obesity

Purpose: The study examined obesity conditions and related factors in middle aged Korean women who had been diagnosed as obese based body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) measurement. Presently, BMI alone, WC alone, or BMI + WC were used as obesity measures. Methods: Subjects were 488 women 40~64 years of age living in one city, Korea. Structured questionnaires concerning general characteristics, health behavior practices, and chronic disease history were completed by each subject. Results: The proportions of obesity were 42.4% by BMI, 39.3% by WC, and 51.3% by the combination of both measurements. Chi-square test revealed significant associations of obesity with age, education level, menopausal status, frequency of excessive eating, and history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. These associations were similar for the three measurement schemes. There was significant positive relationship between BMI and WC, whereas the relationship between BMI and WHR (waist-hip ratio) was not significant. Conclusions: The combination of BMI and WC measurement may be a valid way to evaluate the obesity status in middle-aged women. Developing an obesity management program that includes control of excessive eating, and consideration of menopausal status and history of chronic diseases would be prudentope