Michaela Kiernan|Marilyn A. Winkleby
Identifying Patients for Weight-Loss Treatment
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute|Stanford University|National Heart Lung and Blood Institute|Stanford University
nhlbi national heart lung blood institute obesity education initiative expert panel recently proposed clinicians health care professionals use new treatment algorithm identify patients weightloss treatment addition usual assessment body mass index bmi calculated weight kilograms divided square height meters new algorithm includes assessment abdominal obesity measured waist circumference cardiovascular disease cvd risk factorswe examined percentage adults meeting criteria panels treatment algorithm bmi 30 bmi 250299 waist circumference 88 cm women 102 cm men 2 cvd risk factors sample 2844 black 2754 mexican american 3504 white adults aged 25 64 years third national health nutrition examination survey 19881994across ethnic groups 98 adults normal weight overweight obese received treatment recommendations using panels algorithm algorithm based bmi cvd risk factors without waist circumference normalweight adults almost none 0018 large waist circumference defined 2 cvd risk factors using usual criterion bmi 30 higher substantial percentage atrisk overweight women men bmi 250299 2 cvd risk factors missed 84 193 respectivelydespite potential importance abdominal obesity cvd risk factor results challenge clinical utility including waist circumference new algorithm suggest using bmi cvd risk factors may sufficient