A new approach for estimating healthy body weights

Optimal body weight standards have most often been based on the relationship of relative weight to all cause mortality. This report proposes a strategy based on a more direct measure of adiposity, subscapular skinfolds and cardiovascular disease risk factors, rather than mortality. This approach provides a means for determining standards that are consistent with optimum cardiovascular health without the lengthy follow-up required for mortality studies. The report utilizes data on 2447 non-smoking men and women aged 20-59 years. Seven cardiovascular disease risk factors were significantly related to subscapular skinfold thickness in both sexes in an unfavourable direction. The optimal subscapular skinfolds based on these risk factors for 20-39 year olds were determined to be below 12 mm for men and 15 mm for women. Men and women who had subscapular skinfolds at or below the optimal level had a mean body mass index of 22.6 kg/m2 and 21.1 kg/m2 for men and women, respectively. The probability of being above the optimum adiposity rises rapidly across body mass index levels above 20 kg/m2 and plateaus at above 0.90 in both men and women with body mass index above 24 kg/m2. Thus, screening for above optimal adiposity is necessary only in individuals with body mass index at or below 24 kg/m2.