Country-specific waist circumference cut-off points result in lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rural South African women

Researchers determined country-specific, optimal waist circumference (WC) cut-offs for forecasting metabolic syndrome (METs) in rural black South African populations of the Eastern Cape region. 998 adults underwent the cardiometabolic screening for abdominal obesity.  According to the International Diabetes Federation, abdominal obesity is one of the five criteria for METs, and a strong predictor of the syndrome.

The analysis demonstrated that new WC cut-offs affected METs prevalence differentially between men and women. The new WC cut-off points of 95.25cm for men and 89.45cm for women, determined via Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (ROC) analysis, resulted in METs prevalence of 17.8% and 20.8%. In comparison, METs prevalence  based on traditional cut-off values of 94cm and 80cm for men and women, respectively, was 15.6% and 24.8%. For detailed information about this research, click here.