Waist circumference may not provide additional diagnostic information among patients with what BMI?

Waist circumference is a valuable measure for assessing abdominal obesity and associated health risks. However, among patients with a BMI greater than 35, additional insights from waist circumference measurements become less significant. This is because individuals with a high BMI are already classified as obese, and the risks associated with obesity-related conditions are generally well-established at this level of BMI. The assessment of waist circumference may not add meaningful diagnostic information since those with a BMI over 35 are already recognized as being at an elevated risk for comorbidities, and health management strategies typically do not differ significantly among individuals based on their waist circumference at such high BMI levels.

For patients with lower BMI classifications, waist circumference can provide critical information on whether excess fat is concentrated around the abdomen, which is a greater risk factor for various health issues compared to fat distributed elsewhere in the body. Therefore, its diagnostic value is more pronounced in individuals with lower BMIs where differentiating between normal weight, overweight, and various stages of obesity is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.