Optimal BMI Cutoffs to Predict Metabolic Syndrome among the Employees in a Hospital of Middle Taiwan

Objectives: We evaluated the body mass index (BMI) cutoffs for predicting metabolic syndrome and the association between waist circumference and metabolic factor accumulation in the employees in a hospital of middle Taiwan. Methods: We collected data of 886 Taiwanese, who worked in a medical center in middle Taiwan, including 262 men and 624 women, aged 39-63 years (with a mean age of 47.7±5.7 years in men, women 44.4±4 years in women). A BMI cutoff point as a predictor for 3 or more criterion of metabolic syndrome was evaluated by sensitivity/specificity and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In addition to, we analyzed the association between waist circumference cutoff point and other metabolic risk factor accumulation. Conclusion: We evaluated BMI and waist circumference for predicting metabolic risk factors in the employees in a medical center in middle Taiwan. The result may offer a reference for the primary physician in screening metabolic risk for the middle-aged population in Taiwan. Results: The optimal point was estimated as being 25.6kg/m^2 of BMI in men and 24.7kg/m^2 in women for predicting metabolic syndrome. A waist circumference cutoff 83cm in men and 74.5cm in women was an optimal value for predicting metabolic risk factor accumulation.