Obesity and Adiposity Measures

Question 1

Define ‘obesity’.

Answer 1

Abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health

Question 2

How is obesity defined?

Answer 2

• Body mass index (total fat)
• Waist-stature ratio (central fat)

Question 3

List common measures of adiposity.

Answer 3

Body mass index (BMI)
* Waist circumference
* Waist to stature ratio (WSR)
* Waist to hip ratio (WHR)

Question 4

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Answer 4

A measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.

Question 5

Write the formula for BMI.

Answer 5

BMI = kg/m^2

Question 6

What is the BMI range for obesity?

Answer 6

30kg/m^2 plus

Question 7

List the advantages of BMI.

Answer 7

• Good proxy for total adiposity
• Easy, cheap, non-invasive
• Can be self-reported
• Can be measured in very large samples at population level
• As a widely used measure comparisons can be made

Question 8

List the disadvantages of BMI.

Answer 8

• Not a direct measure of fat
• Doesn’t measure fat distribution
• Varies with fitness (skewed by muscle mass)
• Varies with ethnicity
• Varies with age (adults >65 years; children <18 years)

Question 9

What is abdominal/central obesity?

Answer 9

Fat around the waist,

Question 10

How is abdominal obesity measured?

Answer 10

Measured using waist circumference - alone or as
ratio of stature (height) or hips

Question 11

List 3 features of abdominal obesity.

Answer 11

• Predicts ill-health independently of total fat
• Fat distribution varies with ethnicity
• WHO & NICE: total fat (BMI) AND abdominal fat
  together best predict obesity-related disease

Question 12

How is waist circumference measured?

Answer 12

Measured using a tape measure with the midpoint between lowest rib & top iliac crest