A comparison of proxy measures of abdominal obesity in Chinese, European and South Asian adults

Aims To assess whether four proxy measures of abdominal obesity (waist circ umference; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); waist-to-height ratio and C index, a m easure of body shape) were uniformly associated with features of the metabo lic syndrome (triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, 2- h glucose) in three ethnic groups. Methods Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected in 629 Europeans (320 men, 309 women), 380 Chinese (183 men, 197 women) and 597 South Asian s (275 men, 322 women) aged 25-64 years in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Linear regression models were used to determine whether relationships differed bet ween ethnic groups. Results Linear regression analysis showed that most proxy measures of abdom inal obesity were associated with features of the metabolic syndrome. There were significant interactions between WHR and ethnicity and C index and et hnicity in the relationship with log triglycerides when comparing European and Chinese women. Interactions existed between all proxy measures and ethn icity in the relationship with log triglycerides and HDL cholesterol when c omparing European and South Asian women. In men, interactions between ethni city and waist circumference, WHR and C index when comparing Europeans and South Asians, and between ethnicity and WHR and C index when comparing Sout h Asian and Chinese for log 2-h glucose were significant (P < 0.001). All i nteractions remained significant when differences in smoking, alcohol and p hysical activity were taken into account. Conclusions Not all the proxy measures of abdominal obesity were consistent ly related to features of the metabolic syndrome across the ethnic groups s tudied. However, waist circumference and waist to height ratio were the mos t consistent and WHR the least when comparing across the ethnic groups.