Background
: Obesity is a risk factor of hyperlipidemia, DM, hypertension and cardiovascular deseases. In clinical practice the evaluation of obesity has been done indirectly by anthropometric indices such as BMI, waist to hip ratio, waist and hip circumference. This study was attempted to show whetjer waist circumference is better simple anthropometric index of abdominal obesity and has better correlation of metabolic profile than waist to hip ratio which has been commonly used.

Methods : We gathered 286 cases who have taken medical examination from May 1997 to July 1997 at Dankook University Hospital and measured BMI, relative ideal body weight by Modified Broca method, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, metabolic profiles, fasting blood sugar, systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Results : Waist to hip ratio and waist circumference showed high correlation with BMI and Modified Broca index. In men, correlation coefficient of waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with BMI was r=0.761, r=0.467, and correlation coefficient of waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with Modified Broca index was r=0.726, r=0.458. In women, correlation coefficient of waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with BMI was r=0.791, r=0.628, and correlation coefficient of waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with Modified Broca index was r=0.769 r=0.660. This finding shows waist to hip ratio and waist circumference are more closely related to BMI and Modified Broca index in women than men and showed higher correlation with waist circumference than waist to hip ratio. There were significant differences of correlation coefficient of obesity indices between waist circumference and waist to hip ratio(p<0.00001). Waist circumference showed relatively significant correlation with metalbolic profiles but we could not notice high correlation coeffience. But there was sighificant difference of distribution between normal group and obese group defined as BMI>25, modified Broca index>120%.

Conclusion : Waist circumference, index of abdominal obesity has better correlation with obesity indices than waist to hip ratio and is more simple method.