Background: The purpose of this study was to
determine the association between waist circumference
and waist-to-height ratio (W/Ht) to components of
metabolic syndrome.
Methods: A total of 2,299 healthy examinees who
were examined at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from
December 2004 to December 2006 were enrolled in this
study. Waist circumference (WC) and W/Ht of subjects
were measured and also their blood pressure, fasting
glucose level, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride.
Results: In both women and men, WC and W/Ht had
a significant correlation with all of the components of
metabolic syndrome (P < 0.01). In men, W/Ht had a
stronger relationship with hypertension (OR = 2.19, P <
0.01) than WC. However, hyperglycemia, low HDL
cholesterol, and hypertriglyceridemia had a greater
association with WC. In women, all of the components of
metabolic syndrome had a stronger relationship with W/Ht
than WC.
Conclusion: WC and W/Ht may be the most effective
anthropometric indicies for screening Korean people for
metabolic syndrome.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Waist circumference,
Waist-to-height ratio