The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity, the extent of cardiometabolic risk factors as well as estimated global risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) according to obesity and abdominal obesity were investigated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Abdominal obesity was observed in 42.3% of men and 62.5% of women. There was an increase in LDL cholesterol concentrations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and C-reactive protein and a decrease in HDL cholesterol levels according to body mass index and waist circumference categories. In individuals with an elevated waist circumference, 25-35% had ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors. The odds ratios of having ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors or a high CHD risk (diabetes, cardiovascular disease or a 10-year Framingham risk score >20%), were significantly increased in subjects with an elevated waist circumference compared with those with a low waist circumference after adjusting for confounding variables. Because of the associations between abdominal obesity and a deteriorated cardiometabolic risk profile, it is suggested that waist circumference measurement should be implemented in the initial assessment of a patient’s risk profile.
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