10. Optimal waist circumference cutoff for predicting high visceral fat and metabolic syndrome in adults
Main Article Content
Abstract
Visceral fat is a central risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the optimal waist circumference cutoff to predict visceral fat accumulation and MetS risk in the Vietnamese population has not been clearly established. This study aimed to determine the relationship between waist circumference, visceral fat, and MetS, and to identify the optimal waist circumference cutoff for risk prediction. A cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted on 440 adults undergoing health check-ups at T-Matsuoka Medical Center between January 2023 and April 2024. The mean visceral fat area (VFA) was 103.59 ± 59.66cm², higher in male (138.84 ± 59.26cm²) than in female (72.28 ± 39.05cm²). High visceral fat (≥ 100cm²) was observed in 45.2% of participants, including 70.5% of male and 22.7% of female. Excess visceral fat increased the risk of MetS by 7.5 times (OR = 7.546; 95% CI: 4.703 - 12.108; p < 0.001). Waist circumference was strongly correlated with visceral fat (r = 0.738), more than BMI (r = 0.620). The optimal waist circumference cutoff for predicting high visceral fat was 89.5 cm in men (AUC = 0.810; Se = 80.5%; Sp = 74.6%) and 79.5cm in women (AUC = 0.749; Se = 78.6%; Sp = 66.1%). Age-stratified analysis indicated that the optimal waist circumference cut-off values were 81.5cm in participants aged < 40 years old (AUC = 0.899; Se = 100%; Sp = 74%), 84.5cm in those aged 40 - 59 years old (AUC = 0.863; Se = 75.6%; Sp = 85.3%), and 89.5cm in those aged ≥ 60 years old (AUC = 0.851; Se = 60.9%; Sp = 94.9%). These findings confirm that waist circumference is a simple, low-cost, and valuable indicator for predicting visceral fat and MetS in Vietnamese adults.
Article Details
Keywords
Visceral fat, waist circumference cutoff, metabolic syndrome
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