Final answer:
Upper-body obesity in males is diagnosed when the waist circumference exceeds 40 inches. This measurement is crucial as it indicates greater risks for chronic diseases. The waist-to-hip ratio and BMI are also important measurements for determining obesity and associated health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upper-body obesity, also known as abdominal or central obesity, is diagnosed in males when the waist circumference exceeds 40 inches. This type of obesity is significant because it poses a greater risk for chronic diseases compared to fat stored around the hips, known as a pear-shaped distribution.
\The waist-to-hip ratio is also an important measure for assessing disease risk, as indicated by observational studies which show that it is a better predictor of heart attacks than BMI. In males, a waist-to-hip ratio above 0.90 is considered diagnostic of central obesity, while in females, the threshold is above 0.85.
Measuring visceral fat, which is abdominal fat located around the organs, is crucial as it is a better predictor of disease risk than total fat mass. Men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches and women with a waist circumference greater than 35 inches face increased health risks. Additionally, determining one's BMI can provide information on weight classifications, with a BMI over 30 kg/m² classified as obese and a BMI of 40 or more indicative of morbid obesity.