An Average Body Circumference Can Be a Substitute for Body Mass Index in Women
Table 4
ROC analysis for the recognition of women with BMI ≥25 or BMI ≥30 using body circumferences.
(a) Recognition of women with BMI ≥25. (prevalence of BMI ≥25: 68.4%)
Body Circumference
Area under the ROC curve
Cutoff value (cm)
Sensitivity (%)
Specificity (%)
ABC
0.97 (0.94–0.99)
>44.0
90.2
88.5
UBC
0.94 (0.91–0.94)
>36.7
87.9
86.9
LBC
0.93 (0.89–0.96)
>56.3
84.9
82.0
(N + W + H + A + Th)/5
0.96 (0.94–0.98)
>58.0
90.2
86.9
(W + H + A + Th)/4
0.96 (0.93–0.98)
>63.9
90.9
85.3
Neck
0.88 (0.83–0.93)
>32.6
87.1
75.4
Waist
0.90 (0.86–0.95)
>83.9
90.2
73.8
Hip
0.93 (0.89–0.96)
>101.4
90.2
80.3
(b) Recognition of women with BMI ≥30. (prevalence of BMI ≥30: 33.2%)
Body Circumference
Area under the ROC curve
Cutoff value (cm)
Sensitivity (%)
Specificity (%)
ABC
0.98 (0.96–0.99)
>47.1
92.2
91.5
UBC
0.95 (0.92–0.98)
>39.2
92.2
85.3
LBC
0.96 (0.93–0.99)
>59.5
90.6
87.6
(N + W + H + A + Th)/5
0.98 (0.97–1.0)
>62.5
93.8
91.5
(W + H + A + Th)/4
0.98 (0.97–0.99)
>69.6
93.8
91.5
Neck
0.88 (0.83–0.93)
>34.0
87.5
73.6
Waist
0.93 (0.89–0.96)
>90.6
92.2
76.7
Hip
0.96 (0.94–0.99)
>109.8
90.6
89.2
ABC, average body circumference, average of (neck + waist + hip + arm + forearm + wrist + thigh + ankle). UBC, upper body circumference, average of (neck + waist + arm + forearm + wrist). LBC, lower body circumference, average of (hip + thigh + ankle). N = neck, W = waist, H = hip, A = arm, and Th = thigh. Area under the ROC curve (95% CI). Cutoff value of body circumferences.
