JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and the Middle East is not an exception to this rise. Obesity increases the risk of multiple metabolic complications, such as diabetes mellitus. Measurement of obesity has mainly relied on BMI to identify risk, however both bedside and office-based anthropometric measures of obesity can provide more detailed information on risk

Objective:

To study the prevalence of obesity related diseases in a multidisciplinary weight management population and determine the relationship to obesity anthropometric indices.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai, UAE. 308 patients have been evaluated from January 2019 until September 2019 as part of a multi-disciplinary weight management program. Key demographics, anthropometrics, and clinical data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results:

308 patients included. 103 (33%) males, 205 (67%) females from 38 nationalities. The mean age was 41 years (±9.6) with a median BMI of 34.5 (±6.7) and 33.7 (±7.8) for males and females respectively. Mean waist circumference was 113.4 cm (±23.3) and 103.5 cm (±16.2), fat percent was 33.7% (±11.6) and 45 (±6.8), fat mass was 41 kg (±15.2) and 41.1 (±14.1), and visceral fat was 6.5 kg (±3.2) and 3.1 (±1.8), for males and females respectively. There was a strong correlation between BMI and waist circumference (male; female r=0.65; r= 0.69, P<0.01) and visceral fat (r=0.78 & r= .90). Visceral fat was also significantly associated with waist circumference in both sexes (r= 0.73 and r=0.68 in females and males respectively, P<0.01). Furthermore, waist circumference was significantly associated with risk of diabetes, hypertension, and NAFLD.

Conclusions:

BMI and waist circumference are the most representative measures of obesity in our population and correlate with abdominal adiposity and obesity related diseases. Further studies will play a part in assessing the benefit of these measures during weight reduction interventions.