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. 2017 Apr 13;17(1):317.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4249-0.

The association between self-rated health and different anthropometric and body composition measures in the Chinese population

Kun Tang  1 , Yingxi Zhao  2 , Chunyan Li  3
Affiliations

The association between self-rated health and different anthropometric and body composition measures in the Chinese population

Kun Tang et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: To analyze the strength of association between self-rated health and six anthropometric and body composition measures to explore the best indicator.

Methods: Analyses were based on the cross-sectional data from the China Kadoorie Biobank Study and approximately 300,000 adults were analyzed. Logistics regression was used to analyze the association between self-rated health (good or poor) and anthropometric and body composition measures (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio). Stratified analyses were undertaken to understand the effect modification of socioeconomic status on the association.

Result: Odds ratio of self-rated better health had an inverted U-shape association with weight, BMI, WC and body fat, with weight levels increasing until around 73.8 and 65.7 kg for male and female, BMI around 26.8 kg/m2, WC around 85.8 and 87.6 cm, body fat around 24.3 and 36.3%, and then declining thereafter. Height and HC also indicated a slightly inverted U-shape association. The strongest association was observed after adjustment was weight, with one standard deviation greater weight associated with 10.2% and 10.6% increased odds in male and female.

Conclusions: Being underweight and overweight are both risk factors for poor self-rated health in males and females, and weight is the best indicator of self-rated health compared with other measures.

Keywords: BMI; Chinese; Obesity; Self-rated Health; Waist Circumference.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sex-specific associations between self-rated health and 4 anthropometric and body composition measures, adjusted for study area, age category, education level, household income level, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and MET-hours/day
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Odds ratio of self-reported good health associated with per 1 sex-specific SD of each anthropometric and body composition measure, adjusted for study area, age category, education level, household income level, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and MET-hours/day
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