Waist circumference measurement may detect obesity risks missed by BMI

Research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that measuring waist circumference, either alone or in conjunction with Body Mass Index (BMI), can effectively identify excess body fat. A study conducted by Rutgers Health researchers analyzed data from 1,900 U.S. adults aged 20 to 59 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The study compared various obesity screening methods against a highly accurate reference method for determining body fat. These methods included BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio. While a new framework combining multiple measurements identified more individuals with excess body fat, the researchers found that simpler methods, such as waist circumference alone, provided similar levels of accuracy in detecting health risks.

Lead author Aayush Visaria noted that monitoring waist size can serve as a practical early warning sign for health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, offering an opportunity for earlier intervention.