Evaluation of obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome

Introduction: Obesity contributes significantly to metabolic syndrome pathogenesis. This is due to the formation of adipose tissue, an endocrine organ which, through adipokine secretion, has a marked effect on metabolic processes of the human body. The aim of this paper was to evaluate obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: Among 581 patients subjected to prophylactic examination, 104 with a mean age of 48.65 ± 7.89 years were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (based on the NCEF ATP III criteria from 2001). Obesity was diagnosed in patients with metabolic syndrome based on the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, WHR index value > 0.9 for men and > 0.85 for women, and waist circumference measurement at the navel level > 102 cm for men and >88 cm for women. Results: Obesity was diagnosed in 87.5% of the subjects based on waist circumference measurement. Using the WHR index and BMI, it was diagnosed in 74.0% and 63.5% of the subjects respectively. The results show that BMI and waist circumference correlate positively with fasting glucose level and arterial blood pressure. Conclusions: Waist circumference is the most frequent indicator of abdominal obesity in patients with metabolic syndrome. Waist circumference and BMI are the strongest determinants of the relationship between obesity and other metabolic syndrome components. (Clin Exp Med Lett 2007; 48(4): 235-241)

Keywords: Obesity, metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, BMI, WHR index