As a waist circumference divided by hip circumference. To do so, tape-measure hip circumference at the widest part of the buttocks, and divide this by the previously measured waist circumference. The ratio is the WHR ( waist to hip ratio)
This may be especially valuable in the elderly, since a recent British study by Fletcher et al. showed that in subjects older than 75 a high WHR (>0.99 in nonsmoking men and >0.90 in nonsmoking women) is associated with a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease/death than a lower WHR (≤0.8). The BMI was instead a less important predictor.
In fact, older men and women with lower BMI (less than 23 and 22.3, respectively) were actually
the ones most likely to die, suggesting that a low BMI in this population may indicate muscle loss or poor
nutrition. Hence, in the elderly the WHR is a more accurate indicator of excess body fat.
This may be especially valuable in the elderly, since a recent British study by Fletcher et al. showed that in subjects older than 75 a high WHR (>0.99 in nonsmoking men and >0.90 in nonsmoking women) is associated with a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease/death than a lower WHR (≤0.8). The BMI was instead a less important predictor.
In fact, older men and women with lower BMI (less than 23 and 22.3, respectively) were actually
the ones most likely to die, suggesting that a low BMI in this population may indicate muscle loss or poor
nutrition. Hence, in the elderly the WHR is a more accurate indicator of excess body fat.