Correlation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Central Obesity and Multiple Body Mass Index in Korea

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are associated with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of CV risk factors by cross-tabulating central obesity with multiple BMI categories in Korea.

A total of 328,789 adults aged 30-84 years who completed health assessments for National Health Insurance in 2012-2013 in Korea were examined. The participants were divided into two WC and five BMI groups to investigate CV risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

The proportions of central obesity and obesity were 24.2% and 39.5% in men and 19.4% and 28.1% in women, respectively, according to the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity and World Health Organization Asia-Pacific Guideline criteria. The odds ratios (ORs) of CV risk factors in all sexes increased with increases in BMI and WC. Compared to the group with a normal WC and BMI, the adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for having MetS and diabetes in the centrally obese and highest BMI group (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²) were 35.95 (33.75-38.30) and 3.51 (3.26-3.77) in men and 29.22 (27.36-31.20) and 4.35 (4.02-4.70) in women, respectively. Participants who were centrally obese and obese (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m²) had the strongest correlation with all CV risk factors compared with those who were not centrally obese or obese.

The presence of central obesity in multiple BMI categories may significantly identify individuals at increased risk of CV risk factors.