Abdominal perimeter is the best anthropometric risk indicator of cardiovascular diseases

The objectives of this study were: a) to determine the prevalence of inadequate body fat determined based on body mass index (BMI), abdominal perimeter (AP) and relative body fat (%F), and biochemical indicators of cardiovascular risk, and b) to examine which body fat indicators better reflect the biochemical factors. BMI, %F, AP, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured in 125 men. More than half the sample (56.8%) had low HDL and high BMI (58.4%) and %F (53.6%). There was a lower percentage of subjects with elevated LDL (40.8%), AP (38.4%), triglycerides (34.8%), glucose (27.2%), and total cholesterol (15.2%). AP was associated with four biochemical markers, whereas %F was associated with three and BMI with only two. The prevalence of risk factors was high. An AP >92 cm proved to be the best fat indicator, demonstrating that men are exposed to high levels of LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose.Original Abstract: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: a) verificar a prevalencia de gordura corporal inadequada por meio do indice de massa corporea (IMC), perimetro do abdomen (PAB) e gordura corporal relativa (G%), e indicadores bioquimicos de risco para doencas cardiovasculares; b) analisar quais indicadores de gordura corporal refletem melhor os fatores bioquimicos. Em 125 homens foram mensurados: IMC, G%, PAB, glicemia, triglicendeos, colesterol total, lipoprotefnas de alta densidade (HDL) e lipoproteinas de baixa densidade (LDL). Mais da metade da amostra (56,8%) apresentou baixos valores de HDL e elevados valores de IMC (58,4%) e G% (53,6%). Menor prevalencia de sujeitos foi observada com elevados valores de LDL (40,8%), PAB (38,4%), triglicerideos (34,8%), glicemia (27,2%) e colesterol total (15,2%). O PAB associou-se com quatro indicadores bioquimicos, enquanto que a G% com tres e o IMC somente com dois. A prevalencia dos fatores de risco foi elevada. O PAB >92cm mostrou-se o melhor indicador de gordura, apontando que os homens estao expostos a elevados valores de LDL, colesterol total, triglicerideos e glicemia.