Predictive values of body mass index and waist circumference for risk factors of certain related diseases in Chinese adults: study on optimal cut‐off points of body mass index and waist circumference in Chinese adults

For prevention of obesity in the Chinese population, it is necessary to define the optimal range of healthy weight and the appropriate cut‐off points of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference for Chinese adults. The Working Group on Obesity in China under the support of the International Life Sciences Institute Focal Point in China organized a meta‐analysis on the relationship between BMI, waist circumference and risk factors of related chronic diseases (e.g., high diabetes, diabetes mellitus, and lipoprotein disorders). Thirteen population studies in all met the criteria for enrolment, with data of 239 972 adults (20−70 years of age) surveyed in the 1990s. Data on waist circumference was available for…