Final answer:
A person's waist circumference is a good indicator of central obesity. Waist circumference targets the abdominal fat that is associated with increased health risks and is considered a better predictor of central obesity and the adverse health consequences of obesity than BMI. Measuring waist circumference is a simple and inexpensive tool that can be used to determine central obesity and assess disease risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person's waist circumference is a good indicator of central obesity. Central obesity refers to the excess fat stored in the abdomen, giving a person an apple shape. A waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.85 for women or 0.90 for men is diagnostic of central obesity.
Unlike BMI (body mass index), which is a measure of overall weight in relation to height and does not consider fat distribution, waist circumference specifically targets the abdominal fat that is associated with increased health risks. Therefore, waist circumference is considered a better predictor of central obesity and the adverse health consequences of obesity.
Measuring waist circumference is a simple and inexpensive tool that can be used to determine central obesity and assess disease risk.