Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
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Waist circumference, body mass index and health risk

Approved: 2012

Collaborators:

  • Prof Gita Mishra
  • Prof Annette Dobson
  • Prof Wendy Brown
  • AProf Alexis Hure
  • Dr Gerrie-Cor Gast
  • Dr Jeeva Kanesarajah

Synopsis

Limited evidence supports the waist circumference (WC) cut-off points recommended by obesity evaluation guidelines to identify subjects at increased health risk within the various body mass index (BMI) categories. It is also unknown what WC values best predict health risk within the different BMI categories. This project will examine whether the prevalence of back pain, hypertension, diabetes, and cholecystectomy is greater in women with high compared with normal WC values within the same BMI category. A second aim of this study is to explore optimal WC cut-offs to use in combination with BMI for the specified outcomes.