Mixed
Standard BMI cut points for obesity (≥30 kg/m²) derived from European populations overestimate the BMI threshold for cardiometabolic risk in South Asian, Chinese, and Aboriginal populations, necessitating lower, ethnicity-specific cut points.
If you are of South Asian, Chinese, or Aboriginal descent, the standard 'obese' BMI of 30 may not apply to your health risks. You may face higher risks for diabetes and heart disease at lower body weights (e.g., BMI 21-26). Discuss ethnicity-specific health targets with your provider rather than relying solely on the standard BMI scale.
The cut point to define obesity, as defined by distribution of glucose and lipid factors, is lower by ~6 kg/m2 among non-European groups compared with Europeans.
Why this rating
Large multi-ethnic observational study (n=1078) with robust statistical derivation (factor analysis), though cross-sectional design limits causal inference regarding clinical events.
Source
Defining Obesity Cut Points in a Multiethnic Population
Fahad Razak et al. · Circulation · 2007
DOI 10.1161/circulationaha.106.635011
Related findings · Mixed
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