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Op. Dr. Gökhan Ateş — Antalya Obezite CerrahisiOp. Dr. Gökhan Ateş
Patient Education

Body Fat Percentage and Waist Circumference: Why They Matter

BMI is a basic tool for defining obesity, but it provides no information about where fat is distributed. Abdominal fat — particularly visceral fat — independently increases metabolic disease risk.

What Waist Circumference Shows

It is an indirect indicator of visceral (intra-abdominal) fat quantity. Visceral fat is closely linked to insulin resistance, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver.

Risk Thresholds

Men: ≥102 cm indicates elevated metabolic risk

Women: ≥88 cm indicates elevated metabolic risk

Waist-to-hip ratio >0.90 in men and >0.85 in women: increased risk

Body Fat Percentage

Can be measured by bioelectrical impedance, DXA, and skinfold thickness. Athletes may have a high BMI with low body fat; in older adults the reverse may occur. Assessment should therefore be multidimensional.

Practical Recommendation

Obesity evaluation combines BMI + waist circumference + comorbidities + laboratory findings. Deciding 'low risk' or 'high risk' based on a single parameter is not appropriate.

References

  • WHO — Waist Circumference and Waist–Hip Ratio Report
  • International Diabetes Federation — Metabolic Syndrome Criteria
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