Abdominal fat ratio estimation equation by abdominal type in elderly women

Abstract This study was conducted to define the abdomen types of Korean elderly women and to develop an abdominal fat ratio (AFR) estimation equation using key body measurements and indexes that well represented the body type characteristics of elderly women. An analysis was performed of the correlations between the individual obesity-related measurements and index items to explain the body shape characteristics and obesity trends in elderly women. To derive the equation for estimating the AFR of elderly women, the abdominal types of elderly women were classified, and then, the distribution of each type was investigated. Then, a simple regression analysis was performed in which the dependent variable is predicted by using a single predictor. The AFR and WHtR (Waist-Height Ratio) showed a higher correlation with the obesity-related measurement items and indexes; thus, an equation was derived that enables the estimation of the AFR using simple body measurements. Additionally, the morphological differences of the various abdomen types were analyzed to provide the trends of the abdomen types depending on the AFR in the elderly. This new model for estimating abdominal fat percentage developed in the present study is significant in that it uses relatively easy-to-obtain anthropometric measures like height and waist circumference. The results of the present study demonstrated the relationship between WHtR, which not only well reflects elderly obesity but is also closely related to the prevalence of obesity in the elderly. This finding suggests that the shape of the abdomen will serve as a potential health indicator in the future.