OBJECTIVE: Obesity is considered a major public health concern. The aim of the study is to compare anthropometric indicators related to overweight and obesity by place of residence in a local community with a high social deprivation rate, based on the example of residents of the Janów District in eastern Poland, taking into account gender strata differences.
METHODS: The cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a study group of 3,752 individuals. The following anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were performed to identify the anthropometric indicators related to overweight and obesity: body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body adiposity index (BAI).
RESULTS: Mean age of the study group was 51.92 ± 8.15. Overweight and obesity-related indicators were more prevalent in rural than urban areas among women, and were as follows: BMI (28.77 ± 5.37 vs. 27.62 ± 5.09; p < 0.001), WHR (0.87 ± 0.07 vs. 0.85 ± 0.07; p < 0.001), WHtR (0.57 ± 0.09 vs. 0.57 ± 0.08; p < 0.001) and BAI (33.58 ± 5.48 vs. 32.82 ± 5.4; p = 0.002). Men\'s mean WHR was higher in rural than in urban areas (0.96 ± 0.07 vs. 0.95 ± 0.62; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that women living in rural areas had a mean BMI that was 1.1 higher than that of women living in urban areas, as well as 0.02 higher WHR and WHtR and 0.8 higher BAI. In contrast, men living in rural areas had a 0.001 higher WHtR and WHR than men living in urban areas. In the multivariable models, after having considered potential confounding variables, women living in rural areas had approximately a 60% higher probability of being obese, while men had approximately a 30% higher probability of being obese.

Estimating the change rates in body size following the weight loss programs is very important in the compliance of those programs. Although, there is enough evidence on the significant association of body weight change with the other anthropometric indices and/ or body composition, there is so limited studies that have depicted this relationship as mathematical formulas. Therefore, the present research designed to use a mathematical model to predict changes of anthropometric indices following a weight-loss diet in the overweight and obese women. In this longitudinal study, 212 overweight/obese women who received an individualized low-calorie diet (LCD) were selected and followed-up for five months. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and body composition (lean mass and fat mass) were performed. Then, body mass index, waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index (BAI) were calculated using the related formula. Following the LCD led to the substantial and consistent changes in various anthropometric indices over time. All of these anthropometric variations were significantly related with the percent change (PC) of body weight except than WHR. Moreover, according to the mathematical formulas, weight loss was closely related to the decrease of WC (PC-WC =  - 0.120 + 0.703 × PC-WT), HC (PC-HC =  - 0.350 + 0.510 × PC-WT), body fat percentage (PC-Body Fat =  - 0.019 + 0.915 × PC-WT), WHtR (PC-WHtR =  - 0.113 + 0.702 × PC-WT), and improvements in ABSI (PC-ABSI =  - 0.112 + 0.034 × PC-WT) and AVI (PC-AVI =  - 0.324 + 1.320 × PC-WT). The decreasing rates of WC, HC, body fat percentage, WHtR, ABSI, and AVI in relation to the weight loss were clinically and statistically significant. This means that a healthy weight lowering diet would be accompanied by decreasing the body fat, body size and also the risk of morbidities.

UNASSIGNED: Evidence has been increasingly pointing towards a potential link between phenotypes related to obesity and the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, confirming this as a direct causal connection remains elusive. This investigation aims to elucidate the causative links between obesity-associated phenotypes and the incidence of colorectal cancer.
UNASSIGNED: Employing the Two Sample Mendelian Randomization (TwoSampleMR) R package, analyses were conducted using Mendelian randomization (MR) to discern potential causative links between obesity categories sourced from both the Institute for Education and University (IEU) Open GWAS Project and Zenodo, and colorectal tumors (data obtained from IEU Open GWAS and FinnGen). For primary evaluations, the study utilized the Wald ratio and the Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW) methods, while the MR-Egger approach was integrated for sensitivity assessment. Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (Bidirectional MR), as well as Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) Score Regression with well-imputed HapMap3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were additionally executed. Sensitivity assessments entailed IVW, MR-Egger methodologies to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy, along with a leave-one-out strategy. Instrumental variables were chosen judiciously based on predetermined P-value thresholds and F-statistics.
UNASSIGNED: Results from MR evaluations did not identify a clear causative link between BMI and colorectal malignancy. Conversely, both measures of obesity, the Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) and its adjusted form for BMI (WHRadjBMI), displayed a connection to increased risk of colorectal cancer, especially prominent among female subjects. Reverse MR analyses dismissed potential reverse causality between colorectal malignancies and obesity. A significant genetic interplay was observed between WHR, WHRadjBMI, and colorectal cancer instances. Ensuing MR probes spotlighted inflammatory bowel ailment as a protective factor, while salad intake was indicated as a potential risk concerning colorectal malignancies. Sensitivity reviews, which included tests for both pleiotropy and heterogeneity, validated the robustness of the MR findings.
UNASSIGNED: Findings from this research indicate that specific obesity-related parameters, notably WHR and WHRadjBMI, carry a causal relationship with an elevated colorectal cancer risk. The impact is distinctly more evident among females. Such insights might be pivotal for public health deliberations, hinting that individuals boasting a high WHR might necessitate intensified colorectal cancer screenings.

UNASSIGNED: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) presents a growing health concern in pediatric populations due to its association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) offers a non-invasive and potentially effective alternative for identifying MASLD risk in youth with overweight or obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utility of BIA for screening for MASLD in the youth.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 206 children and adolescents aged <20 years who were overweight and obese. The correlations between anthropometric measurements and BIA parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were assessed using Pearson\'s correlation analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between these parameters and ALT level elevation and MASLD score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the predictive ability of the parameters for MASLD.
UNASSIGNED: Pearson\'s correlation analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat (PBF), and BIA parameters combined with anthropometric measurements were correlated with ALT level. Logistic regression revealed that WHR, skeletal muscle mass/WHR, PBF-WHR, fat-free mass/WHR, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass/WHR were correlated with ALT level elevation after adjusting for age, sex, and puberty. WHR, PBF-WHR, and visceral fat area (VFA)-WHR were positively correlated with the MASLD score in the total population after adjusting for age, sex, and puberty. PBF-WHR and VFA-WHR were correlated with the MASLD score even in youth with a normal ALT level. The cutoff points and area under the ROC curves were 34.6 and 0.69 for PBF-WHR, respectively, and 86.6 and 0.79 for VFA-WHR, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: This study highlights the utility of combining BIA parameters and WHR in identifying the risk of MASLD in overweight and obese youth, even in those with a normal ALT level. BIA-based screening offers a less burdensome and more efficient alternative to conventional MASLD screening methods, facilitating early detection and intervention in youth at risk of MASLD.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal association between unhealthy lifestyle style factors and the risk of colorectal cancer, with the aim of preventing the occurrence of colorectal cancer by modifying unhealthy lifestyles. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was employed in this study, utilizing the inverse-variance weighted method as the primary research method. This MR analysis analyzed data of 3022 colorectal cancer cases and 174,006 controls from the FinnGen database. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with unhealthy lifestyle factors were selected as instrumental variables (IVs), including two obesity-related indicators, BMI (body mass index) and WHR (waist-to-hip ratio). Four phenotypes of smoking (smoking initiation, ever smoked, smoking per day, smoking cessation) and one phenotype of alcohol consumption (drinks per week). Four phenotypes of physical activity (accelerometer-based physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, vigorous physical activity, strenuous sports or other exercises). All SNPs were obtained from published genome-wide association studies. The study found that the obesity-related indicator, higher WHR (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.12-1.70; P = 0.002) were associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, and two smoking phenotypes, cigarettes per day(OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.01-1.68; P = 0.042)and smoking initiation (OR = 3.48, 95% CI 1.15-10.55; P = 0.028), were potentially associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, there was no evidence to suggest that physical activities and alcohol consumption were associated with colorectal cancer (all p > 0.05). In addition, the study detected no pleiotropy (all p > 0.05). This MR analysis indicates a causal association between a higher waist-to-hip ratio and the risk of colorectal cancer and a suggestive association between smoking and the risk of colorectal cancer among Europeans. These findings contribute to the understanding of the etiology of colorectal cancer and have potential implications for its prevention.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a chronic disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), underestimated in this population. The high mortality related to CVD reveals the need for early screening. One of the training tools is the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). However, few studies evaluate its relationship with metabolic changes in severe obesity, making necessary a new cut-off point.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 75 Brazilian women with severe obesity (mean age: 37,6 years; weight of 122 kg and body mass index (BMI) of 47,8 kg/m2). Height, weight, neck circumference (NC), hip (HC), waist (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were obtained. Blood samples were collected for lipid/glucose profile. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) was explored to define cut-off points for WHR based on SAH. Women were compared using the t-Student/Mann Whitney test. Pearson/Spearman correlations were performed, and the significance level was set at 5%.
RESULTS: The ROC curve indicated that WHR ≥0.92 best predicted SAH. The group with WHR ≥0.92 had higher Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.037), insulin (p = 0.037), NC (p = 0.004), and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) (p = 0.038). WHR correlated with NC (p = 0.002; r = 0.358), glucose (p = 0.026; r = 0.270); insulin (p = 0.05; r = 0.238); HOMA-IR (p = 0.01; r = 0.3238), triglycerides (p = 0.006; r = 329) and AIP (p = 0.02; r = 0.370).
CONCLUSIONS: A new cut-off point for WHR related to SAH in severe obesity is suggested.

BACKGROUND: Research on Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is still in its early stages, with few studies available to identify and predict effective indicators of this disease. On the other hand, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to reduce the burden of MAFLD. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of eleven anthropometric indices and their appropriate cut-off values as a non-invasive method to predict and diagnose MAFLD in the Iranian population.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed baseline data from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study, a prospective population-based study conducted in Iran that enrolled a total of 7836 subjects aged 35 to 70 years from May 2016 through August 2018.
RESULTS: The optimal cut-off values of anthropometric indices for predicting MAFLD risk were determined for waist circumference(WC) (102.25 cm for males and 101.45 cm for females), body mass index (BMI) (27.80 kg/m2 for males and 28.75 kg/m2 for females), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (0.96 for both males and females), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (0.56 for males and 0.63 for females), body adiposity index (BAI) (23.24 for males and 32.97 for females), visceral adiposity index (VAI) (1.64 for males and 1.88 for females), weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) (10.63 for males and 11.71 for females), conicity index (CI) (1.29 for males and 1.36 for females), body roundness index (BRI) (4.52 for males and 6.45 for females), relative fat mass (RFM) (28.18 for males and 44.91 for females) and abdominal volume index (AVI) (18.85 for males and for 21.37 females). VAI in males (sensitivity: 77%, specificity: 60%, Youden\'s Index: 0.37) and RFM in females (sensitivity: 76%, specificity: 59%, Youden\'s Index: 0.35) were found to have higher sensitivity and specificity compared to other anthropometric indices. Furthermore, anthropometric indices demonstrated statistically significant correlations with various hepatic and cardiometabolic indices. Among these, the strongest positive correlations were observed between WC, BMI, BAI, BRI, and AVI with the Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI), TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC, as well as between VAI and the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), Cardiometabolic Index (CMI), and the Triglyceride and Glucose (TyG) Index.
CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric indices are effective in predicting MAFLD risk among Iranian adults, with WWI, VAI, and RFM identified as the strongest predictors. The proposed cutoff values could serve as a straightforward and non-invasive methods for the early diagnosis of MAFLD.

The present cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between systemic inflammatory indices (SIIs) and anthropometric measures, metabolic, and liver function biomarkers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study was carried out on 238 NAFLD patients with overweight or obesity, aged 18-55 years. Anthropometric measurements were done and body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were estimated. Metabolic factors including serum glucose, lipid profile, liver function biomarkers, and complete blood cell count were assessed after a 24-h fasting state. SIIs including the ratios of neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR), monocytes to lymphocyte (MLR), platelet to lymphocyte (PLR), and monocytes to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MHR) were calculated. Results indicate that apart from PLR, all of the SIIs significantly changed by increasing steatosis severity (all p < 0.05). Moreover, changes in NLR showed a significant association with anthropometric indices including waist circumference (p = 0.032), BMI (p = 0.047), and WHtR (p = 0.002), as well as levels of fasting blood sugar (p = 0.045), triglycerides, (p = 0.025) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.006). The findings also indicate the relations between lipid profile and all studied SIIs, notably MHR and MLR. All of the SIIs exhibited associations with some liver function indices as well. MHR was positively correlated with the metabolic risk factors of NAFLD while, oppositely, PLR was considered as a preventive marker of NAFLD.

UNASSIGNED: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in Kenya is rising. Overweight, pre-hypertension and physical inactivity at younger ages is contributory. These risk factors are inadequately documented among Kenyan children and adolescents, hampering CVD prevention.
UNASSIGNED: this cross-sectional study randomly sampled 384 participants from Eldoret, Kenya. After ethical considerations, physical activity was assessed. Body mass index (BMI), Waist-Hip-Ratio (WHR) and Waist-Height-Ratio (WHtR) were determined, and blood pressure (BP) was measured.
UNASSIGNED: participants were 14.6±2.7 years, and 62.6% were female. Eight percent had BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2. Of these, 87% were in secondary schools. Using SBP, 27.9% had CVD risk (42.5% and 20% for males and females ≥13 years and 26.5% and 27% for those <13 years, respectively). For DBP, 12.8% had elevated-to-hypertensive BP (13.2% and 8.3% for males and females ≥13 years and 11.8% and 25.4% for those <13 years, respectively). Combining SBP and DBP, 8.1%, mostly males, had elevated-to-hypertensive BP. Using respective WHR cutoffs of 0.90 and 0.85, 31% (boys) and 15.6% (girls) were at CVD risk. For WHtR, 39.6% of boys were >0.463 cut-off (0.493±0.02) against 32.4% for girls >0.469 cut-off (0.517±0.05). Of these, 52.6% (boys) and 69.7% (girls) were in secondary schools. Overall, 45% of participants were sports-inactive and 77.2% did minimal physical activities.
UNASSIGNED: among school-going children and adolescents in Eldoret, Kenya, the prevalence of CVD risk factors was high, especially among boys and in high schools. Large proportions had elevated BP, BMI, WHR and WHtR, and, further, were sedentary, posing a high CVD risk. Lifestyle interventions to mitigate this are urgently needed.

Central obesity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (ASATT) can be used to evaluate central obesity. The objective of this study was to compare ASATT with cardiovascular risk factors and other anthropometric parameters to show that ASATT can be a useful tool for the early assessment of heart disease risk. In this observational cross-sectional study, anthropometric measurements of 100 autopsied decedents, including waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/height and waist/hip ratio, aortic outlet and coronary artery atheroma plaque densities, heart weight, ventricular wall thickness, and ASATT, were assessed. The research data were evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows 25.0. The average ASATT of the male group was 40.36 mm (SD: 11.00), and the average of female cases was 46.34 mm (SD: 18.12). There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes and both age groups in terms of the ASATT score (P > .05). There was a positive correlation between ASATT and waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist/height ratio in both sexes (P < .05). While ASATT was not related to atheroma density in the coronary arteries of men (P > .05), it was correlated with atheroma density in all 3 coronary arteries of women (P < .05). In the male group, the aortic inner surface atheroma density was positively correlated with ASATT (P < .05). In both sexes, there was a positive correlation (P < .05) between ASATT and heart weight; however, no such correlation was observed with right and left ventricular wall thickness (P > .05). ASATT is related to other anthropometric measurements, atherosclerosis of critical vessels, and heart weight, and can be used to scan the patient population for heart disease risk assessment with noninvasive methods.