ABSTRACT
The underlying assumption is that most
variation in weight for persons of the same
height is due to fat mass. The formula most
frequently used in epidemiological studies is
body mass index (BMI) which is weight in
kilograms divided by the square of the height
in metres. BMI is strongly correlated with
densitometry measurements of fat mass
adjusted for height in middle-aged adults. The
main limitation of BMI is that it does not
distinguish fat mass from lean mass. The
succeeding chapters on the health risks of
overweight and obesity confirm that
measurements of body circumference are
important because excess visceral (intra-
abdominal) fat is a potential risk for chronic
diseases independent of total adiposity. Waist
circumference and the ratio of waist
circumference to hip circumference are
practical measures for assessing upper body fat
distribution, although neither provides a
precise estimate of visceral fat. Measurement
of skinfold thickness with callipers provides a
more precise assessment of body fat, especially
if taken at multiple sites. Skinfolds are useful
in the estimation of fatness in children for
whom standards have been published.
