Clinical predictability of the waist-to-hip ratio in assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight, premenopausal women

The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is one of the most commonly used anthropometric measures to indicate a central obesity pattern and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in normal-weight women. Although the American Heart Association has reported that a WHR >0.80 be used to indicate increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women, the present study assessed the WHR above which is seen elevations in cardiovascular disease risk factors in a sample of overweight women. Using data from 240 women aged 27.5-47.5 y enrolled in a university weight-loss program, we determined WHR quartiles: <0.80, 0.80 to <0.84, 0.84 to <0.90, and > or =0.90. Subjects were placed into high-risk categories for cardiovascular disease on the basis of age- and population-defined norms. Women had an increased likelihood of elevated VLDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, diastolic blood pressure, and composite risk (ie, having > or =4 cardiovascular disease risk factors) and an increased risk of having low concentrations of HDL at a WHR > or =0.90. All aforementioned variables had a significant odds ratio at a WHR > or =20.90 after adjustment for smoking, whereas elevated VLDL, triacylglycerol, and diastolic blood pressure were observed at this WHR after adjustment for a body mass index (in kg/m2) < or > or =35. Only 2 variables, VLDL and triacylglycerol, had a significant odds ratio at a WHR <0.90 before and after adjustment for BMI and smoking. These data suggest an upward shift in the critical threshold for WHR to > or =0.90, at which point there was an elevation in cardiovascular disease risk factors in already overweight women. This trend persisted regardless of whether the women smoked or whether their body mass index was < or > or =35.