%0 Journal Article
%T The body mass index (BMI) as a public health tool to predict metabolic syndrome
%A Miguel Murgu¨ªa-Romero
%A Rafael Jim¨¦nez-Flores
%A Rafael Villalobos-Molina
%A Mar¨ªa Isabel Mendoza-Ramos
%A Julia Reyes-Reali
%A Santiago C. Sigrist-Flores
%A Adolfo Ren¨¦ M¨¦ndez-Cruz
%J Open Journal of Preventive Medicine
%P 59-66
%@ 2162-2485
%D 2012
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojpm.2012.21009
%X Objective: To analyze the body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of metabolic alterations, including the metabolic syndrome (MetS), at both individual level and public health level. Method: We recruited 3683 undergraduate students (17 - 24 years old) from M¨¦xico City identifying metabolic alterations, including the MetS, and comparing its prevalence by BMI ranges. We applied a sensitivity analysis to define BMI optimal cut-off point values. Results: We found 14.6% of MetS prevalence with a BMI average of 24.2%, and 34.5% of overweight prevalence (BMI ¡Ý 25). A BMI cut-off point value of 22.5 is suggested as an upper limit of a normal weight condition, only for public health purpose; while at individual level the BMI cut-off point of 25 was corroborated as the upper limit for a normal weight condition. A public health tool to estimate the MetS prevalence based on BMI percentages is proposed, and a study case is presented. Conclusion: BMI fails predicting at individual level both, healthy condition or metabolic alterations, when values are lower than 25. At population level, the BMI is a valuable public health tool to estimate MetS prevalence: based on the prevalence of MetS by BMI ranges of a sample of the population.
%K BMI
%K Metabolic Syndrome
%K Obesity
%K Public Health Tool
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=17412