Abdominal Obesity

Definition

Abdominal obesity refers to excess fat around the stomach and abdomen, which can increase the risk of many health problems.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity, is characterized by excessive fat accumulation around the visceral organs, indicated by a higher waist circumference relative to hip circumference. It is often assessed using the waist-to-hip ratio, which is a significant predictor of cardiovascular risk.

Benefits

• Understanding abdominal obesity can help in assessing the risk for metabolic syndromes.
• Monitoring waist-to-hip ratio can guide lifestyle changes to improve overall health.

Examples

• Measuring waist and hip circumference and calculating the waist-to-hip ratio.

Additional Information

• knownIssues: Abdominal obesity is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.

Related Terms

• Body Mass Index
• Visceral Fat
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Cardiovascular Risk

References

• The Importance of Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation