Ethnic-specific criteria needed to predict metabolic risk

Data from 4 surveys of Inuit conducted during 1990-2001 in Canada, Greenland, and Alaska were pooled in order to investigate the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic correlates of different levels of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference among the Inuit. The resulting sample of 2545 subjects was compared to data from a Canadian population of predominantly white Caucasian Europeans. The prevalence of overweight (WHO criteria) was 36.6% and 32.5% among Inuit men and women, respectively; the respective figures for obesity (WHO criteria) were 15.8% and 25.5%. With rising levels of BMI or waist circumference, mean values of various metabolic indicators such as lipid, glucose, insulin levels and blood pressure also increased. At each level of BMI, however, the Inuit had lower blood pressure and lipid levels compared with Euro-Canadians, and could potentially be at lower CV risk. In conclusion, criteria of obesity may not indicate the same degree of metabolic risk for different populations and ethnic-specific criteria may thus be needed

Abstract