Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
The diagnosis of obesity is conventionally determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), with a threshold of 30 being extensively accepted. However, the validity of this cutoff point is subject to variation due to ethnic differences, and its accuracy in the Mexican population remains unvalidated. This cr...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Obesities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/5/2/34 |
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| author | Jorge Alejandro Ayala San Pedro Dylani Rosa Avila Salcedo Livia Magdalena Martínez Borja Elizabeth Castillo Montufar |
| author_facet | Jorge Alejandro Ayala San Pedro Dylani Rosa Avila Salcedo Livia Magdalena Martínez Borja Elizabeth Castillo Montufar |
| author_sort | Jorge Alejandro Ayala San Pedro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The diagnosis of obesity is conventionally determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), with a threshold of 30 being extensively accepted. However, the validity of this cutoff point is subject to variation due to ethnic differences, and its accuracy in the Mexican population remains unvalidated. This cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study endeavored to assess the diagnostic performance of BMIs ≥ 30 in comparison to body fat determination using bioimpedance. A total of 715 Mexican adults, aged over 18 years were analyzed. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, and BMI, were recorded, and body fat percentage was assessed. The results showed that BMIs ≥ 30 had a sensitivity of 62.4%, a specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95.5%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 54%. In contrast, a BMI cut-off of ≥27 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, with a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 82.5%, PPV of 90.8%, and NPV of 67.3%. The chi-square test revealed a significant difference in obesity diagnosis between bioimpedance and BMIs ≥ 30 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings suggest that the current BMI cutoff of ≥30 underestimates obesity diagnosis, while a cutoff of ≥27 may provide a more accurate diagnostic threshold, emphasizing the necessity for population-specific adjustments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2f0a0177c2e4df082c457e060a5241c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-4168 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Obesities |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2f0a0177c2e4df082c457e060a5241c2025-08-20T03:16:24ZengMDPI AGObesities2673-41682025-05-01523410.3390/obesities5020034Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional AnalysisJorge Alejandro Ayala San Pedro0Dylani Rosa Avila Salcedo1Livia Magdalena Martínez Borja2Elizabeth Castillo Montufar3Department of Endocrinology, Mexican Social Security Institute, México City 08400, MexicoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Ticomán General Hospital, México City 07330, MexicoChief of the Obesity and Overweight Clinic, Spanish Hospital of Mexico, México City 11520, MexicoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Toluca Medical Center, México City 11520, MexicoThe diagnosis of obesity is conventionally determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), with a threshold of 30 being extensively accepted. However, the validity of this cutoff point is subject to variation due to ethnic differences, and its accuracy in the Mexican population remains unvalidated. This cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study endeavored to assess the diagnostic performance of BMIs ≥ 30 in comparison to body fat determination using bioimpedance. A total of 715 Mexican adults, aged over 18 years were analyzed. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, and BMI, were recorded, and body fat percentage was assessed. The results showed that BMIs ≥ 30 had a sensitivity of 62.4%, a specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95.5%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 54%. In contrast, a BMI cut-off of ≥27 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, with a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 82.5%, PPV of 90.8%, and NPV of 67.3%. The chi-square test revealed a significant difference in obesity diagnosis between bioimpedance and BMIs ≥ 30 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings suggest that the current BMI cutoff of ≥30 underestimates obesity diagnosis, while a cutoff of ≥27 may provide a more accurate diagnostic threshold, emphasizing the necessity for population-specific adjustments.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/5/2/34body mass index electrical bioimpedancebody fat specificitylikelihood ratiopredictive value |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Alejandro Ayala San Pedro Dylani Rosa Avila Salcedo Livia Magdalena Martínez Borja Elizabeth Castillo Montufar Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Obesities body mass index electrical bioimpedance body fat specificity likelihood ratio predictive value |
| title | Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full | Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_short | Assessment of Body Mass Index for Obesity Diagnosis in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_sort | assessment of body mass index for obesity diagnosis in the mexican population a cross sectional analysis |
| topic | body mass index electrical bioimpedance body fat specificity likelihood ratio predictive value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4168/5/2/34 |
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