Deriving sex-specific anthropometric cut-points for obesity and cardiovascular disease risk in Qatari adults.

Optimal BMI cut-points for Qatari adults were lower than WHO global standards for both sexes.

• The optimal BMI cut-point was 25.2 kg/m² for males and 24.8 kg/m² for females.
• These thresholds were derived using ROC curve analyses aligned with body fat percentage (%BF).
• The WHO standard BMI cut-point for obesity is 30 kg/m².
• The study sample consisted of 6000 participants from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) in a cross-sectional design.

Optimal waist circumference (WC) cut-points for Qatari adults were lower than global standards for both sexes.

• WC cut-points were 84.3 cm for males and 74.5 cm for females.
• These are lower than WHO-recommended WC thresholds (typically 94 cm for males and 80 cm for females).
• Cut-points were derived using ROC curve analyses aligned with body fat percentage (%BF).
• The study noted particularly large discrepancies for females compared to global standards.

WHO BMI cut-points substantially misclassified obesity in Qatari adults.

• 54.6% of males were misclassified using the WHO BMI cut-point.
• 43.0% of females were misclassified using the WHO BMI cut-point.
• Misclassification analyses examined the limitations of WHO-recommended cut-points compared to ROC-derived thresholds.
• The study sample was described as consisting of relatively young adults with high levels of adiposity.

WHO waist circumference cut-points showed even higher misclassification rates for females than WHO BMI cut-points.

• 87.5% of females with obesity as defined by %BF were misclassified as not having obesity using WHO WC thresholds.
• This misclassification rate for WC was higher than the 43.0% misclassification rate observed for BMI in females.
• These findings highlight that WC global thresholds are particularly inadequate for Qatari females.

Disease-specific anthropometric thresholds for elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia varied, reflecting unique biological pathways for each condition.

• ROC curve analyses were applied to identify cut-points aligned with disease-specific thresholds for elevated blood pressure (EBP), diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
• The authors noted that disease-specific thresholds varied, 'highlighting the unique biological pathways underlying EBP, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.'
• The cross-sectional sample of 6000 Qatar Biobank participants was used for all disease-specific analyses.

Global anthropometric thresholds established by the WHO may inadequately capture health risks associated with obesity in Arab populations such as Qataris.

• The study used a cross-sectional sample of 6000 participants from the Qatar Biobank (QBB).
• Findings highlighted 'the differences of global anthropometric thresholds and the need for population-specific measures to improve obesity and CVD risk classification in an Arab sample.'
• The authors derived tailored cut-points 'for clinical and public health use in Qatar, as a tool to improve screening and diagnostics for timely obesity and disease intervention in this population.'