The International Diabetes Federation’s definition of the metabolic syndrome uses ethnic-specific criteria to define abdominal obesity.
Country/Ethnic Group | Waist Circumference Cut Points |
Europids* In the USA, the ATP III values (102 cm male; 88 cm female) are likely to continue to be used for clinical purposes |
Male: ≥ 94 cm |
Female: ≥ 80 cm | |
South Asians and Asian-Indian population |
Male: ≥ 90 cm |
Female: ≥ 80 cm | |
Chinese | Male: ≥ 90 cm |
Female: ≥ 80 cm | |
Japanese** | Male: ≥ 90 cm |
Female: ≥ 80 cm | |
Ethnic South and Central Americans |
Use the South Asian recommendations until more specific data are available |
Sub-Saharan Africans |
Use European data until more specific data are available |
Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (Arab) populations |
Use European data until more specific data are available |
*In future epidemiological studies of populations of Europid origin, prevalence should be given using both European and North American cut points to allow better comparisons.
** Originally, different values were proposed for Japanese people but new data support the use of the values shown above.
Source: International Diabetes Federation consensus worldwide definition of the metabolic syndrome
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