Details of Element: Upper Abdomen Circumference (Cm)
Component of Body Composition

Unique Name: upabc
Contained in the Common BLSA Data Set ? No

Data Points (as of 09/06/98) Males Females Total
Number of Data Points 8669 3673 12342
Number of Distinct Participants 1501 905 2406
Year First Collected 1959 1978 -
Year Last Collected 1998 1998 -

Type of Variable: Absolute Measure
Encoding: Continuous
Units of Measure: cm
Precision: ###.#
Anticipated Range: 070.0 thru 120.0
Masterfile Index: 161-03-45
Related Data Elements: none
Specific to this Data Element:
    Descriptive history:
    The upper abdomen circumference (also know as waist circumference) is part of the Behnke evaluation. Measurements in BLSA men were begun in 1960 and in BLSA women in 1978. The upper abdomen circumference is obtained with a flexible tape measure, manipulated to maintain close contact with the skin without compression of underlying tissues. The upper abdomen circumference is defined as the minimal abdominal perimeter located halfway between the rib cage and the pelvic crest. The waist and hip circumference are used to compute the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). WHR and the waist circumference are measures of body fat distribution.

    Data collection methodology:
    Anthropometry

    Related protocols:
    Body composition

    Investigators:
    Dr. Reubin Andres (primary investigator)
    GRC Box-24
    andresr@grc.nia.nih.gov
    (410)-558-8194

    Frequency of data collection:
    Every visit.

    Inclusion/exclusion rules:
    None.

    Publications using these data:
  • Shimokata H; Muller DC; Andres R: Studies in the Distribution of Body Fat: III. Effects of Cigarette Smoking. Journal of the American Medical Association 1989 261: 1169-1173 (1989).
  • Shimokata H; Tobin JD; Muller DC et al.: Studies in the Distribution of Body Fat: I. Effects of Age, Sex, and Obesity. Journal of Gerontology 1989 44: M66-M73 (1989).
  • Shimokata H; Andres R; Coon PJ et al.: Studies in the Distribution of Body Fat: II. Longitudinal Effects of Change in Weight. International Journal of Obesity 1989 13: 455-464 (1989).
  • Shimokata H; Muller DC; Fleg JL et al.: Age as an Independent Determinant of Glucose Tolerance. Diabetes 1991 40: 44-51 (1991).
  • Busby MJ; Bellantoni MF; Tobin JD et al.: Glucose tolerance in women: the effects of age, body composition, and sex hormones. Journal of the American Geriatric Association 1992 40: 497-502 (1992).
  • Seidell JC; Andres R; Sorkin JD et al.: The Sagittal Waist Diameter and Mortality in Men: the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging. International Journal of Obesity 1994 18: 61-67 (1994).
  • Muller DC; Elahi D; Sorkin JD et al.: Muscle mass: Its measurement and influence on aging. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.; in Rosenberg I, Nutritional Assessment of Elderly Populations: Measure and Function (New York, Raven Press 1995).
  • Muller D; Elahi D; Tobin J et al.: Insulin response during the oral glucose tolerance test: the role of age, sex, body fat and the pattern of fat distribution. Aging 1996 8: 13-21 (1996).
Details for this Data Type
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Revised 09/18/98 -- Send comments to our Web Master .