[Circumference of the abdomen and gluteal region (waist and hip) in the adult Czech and Slovak population].

Abstract

Abdominal and gluteal (waist and hip) circumferences are accepted as indicators of central fat distribution and abdominal (waist) circumference is generally regarded as a simple anthropometric measure of visceral fat distribution. In the years 1987-88 there was carried out an anthropometric survey on the whole region of former Czechoslovakia, which was done in 16,400 of adult men and women, aged 20 to more than 70 years on the basis of the three grade statistical choice. Except for many other anthropometric measures, abdominal and gluteal (waist and hip) circumferences were estimated according to Martin and Saller [1957] (M62/1; M64/1). The results show that gluteal (hip) circumference is longer than abdominal (waist) circumference in adulthood similarly as in childhood. Abdominal circumference is longer in men than in women in agreement with sexual dimorphism. Abdominal circumference is not significantly different in Czech and Slovak men and Czech and Slovak women. Nevertheless, in Slovak women increases their abdominal circumference to maximum at the beginning their fifth decade and then decreases concurrently with lowering of BMI while in Czech women increase in abdominal circumference lasts till seventh decade. Maximal intersexual difference is found in the third decade (21-25 years) and at the end of follow-up in both populations. Gluteal (hip) circumference is not significantly different in men and women to the half of the forth decade in both Czech and Slovak populations. Afterwards it is markedly longer in women probably due to the higher accumulation of subcutaneous fat. In the second part of seventh decade in Czech population and about five years earlier in the Slovak group the circumference is getting shorter on the average value in men. This change can be caused by the age involution of adipose tissue. The examined data were constructed into percentile nets of the abdominal and gluteal circumferences for both men and women and Czech and Slovak populations.