Comparison of anthropometric and body composition indices in the identification of metabolic risk factors

Whether anthropometric or body composition indices are better indicators of metabolic risk remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to compare the association of metabolic risk factors with anthropometric and body composition indices and to identify the better indicators for risk factors in a large-scale Korean population. In this cross-sectional study, the associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as anthropometric indices and trunk fat mass (TFM), percent trunk fat mass (%TFM), whole-body total fat mass (WBTFM), and percent whole-body total fat mass (%WBTFM) as body composition indices with metabolic risk factors were compared by complex-samples multiple logistic regression models based on complex-sample survey data. In men, WHtR, BMI, and TFM were similarly associated with hypertension. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypo-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterolemia tended to be more strongly associated with WHtR and WC than body composition indices. Hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia were more strongly associated with WHtR and %TFM than other indices. In women, hypertension tended to be more strongly associated with WHtR than other indices. TFM, %TFM, and WHtR were similarly associated with hyperlipidemia. Diabetes and hypo-HDL cholesterolemia were more strongly associated with WHtR and WC than body composition indices. Hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia were more strongly associated with WHtR and %TFM than other indices. Among six metabolic risk factors, the validity and utility of the anthropometric indices in identifying risk factors tended to be similar to or better than those of the body composition indices, except for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in men and hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in women.