Sensitivity and Specificity of Anthropometric Indices in Identifying Obesity in Women over 40 Years of Age and Their Variability in Subsequent Decades of Life

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Anthropometric measurements and indices are a simple and inexpensive method to assess normal physical development and quickly identify the risk of diseases, including overweight and obesity. Early diagnosis of obesity supports the identification of the risk of cardiometabolic, osteoarticular, and muscular diseases, low back pain, and sarcopenia in the population. Given the changes in lifestyle and population variation, it is important to verify the diagnostic effectiveness of anthropometric measurements and indicators in different populations, taking into account groups at particular risk of developing obesity. One of them is menopausal and postmenopausal women, in whom a number of hormone-induced changes are taking place while the aging process is progressing. There is a significant change in body composition, predisposing to obesity, associated with hormonal disorders and unhealthy eating habits. The aim of our study was to find out which of the commonly used indicators for the detection of obesity is the best in the group of menopausal and postmenopausal women. ABSTRACT: Anthropometric measurements and indices are a simple and inexpensive method to assess normal physical development and quickly identify the risk of diseases. The aim of the study was to verify the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of selected anthropometric indices in a group of women over 40 years. The study included 87 women (group I—40 to 49 years, group II—50 to 59 years, group III—60 to 69 years, and group IV—70 to 79 years). Anthropometric characteristics were measured: body mass (BM), body height (BH), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC). Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHTR) were calculated. The percentage of fat tissue (FT) and visceral fat volume (FV) were evaluated using DEXA. A decrease in mean BH with an increase in the mean WC, WHR, and WHTR in subsequent decades. There were strong statistically significant correlations between FT and most indicators (except for WHR). FV was correlated at a strong or moderate level with most parameters. In the group of women aged 40 to 80 years, the most favorable AUC was obtained for WC, followed by BMI. BAI can be recommended as a complementary indicator to BMI.