Evaluating the waist circumference and waist–to–height ratio as most reliable indicators to determine abdominal obesity among adolescents: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Kazakhstan

Ospanova A.S. Kerimkulova A.S. Chattu V.K. Samigatova A.O. Markabaeva A. Nurpeissova R. Zhakupbekova M.O.
November 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Obesity Medicine
2025 #58

Background: Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue in Kazakhstan and worldwide. The prevalence of teenager obesity has increased almost three times over the past 20 years among adolescents from 12 to 19 years old. This study aimed to evaluate the waist–to–height ratio (WHtR) as the most informative method for identifying abdominal obesity among young people of 12–13 years old. Methods: In this cross–sectional study of 1519 adolescents aged 12–13years (mean age: 12.3 ± 0.46years), data were obtained from the from all the seven secondary schools in Semey city (Kazakhstan) science during 2015–2016. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 22). Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in terms of body mass index (BMI) among adolescents was 24.6 %. Excess weight is significantly higher among girls, but obesity is less pronounced in comparison with boys. According to body BMI by ethnicity overweight is more prevalent among Russian teenagers. The prevalence of abdominal obesity (WC˃90^Th percentile) was 1.2 % among boys (n = 9) and 5.3 % among girls (n = 41). According to the WHtR, the obesity among boys (n = 57) was 7.7 % and 7.5 % among girls (n = 58) respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 24.6 % in adolescents. Underweight or overweight were significantly higher among girls, but obesity was less pronounced compared with boys (р˃0,001). Our study recommends to use both WC and WHtR in determining abdominal obesity among adolescents.

Adolescents , Body mass index (BMI) , Kazakhstan , Obesity , Waist circumference , Waist–to–height ratio

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Department of Pediatrics and Medical Rehabilitation named after Tusupova D.M., Semey Medical University, Abay Street, 103, Abay Region, Semey, 071400, Kazakhstan
Department of Family medicine No.2, Astana Medical University, Kazakhstan
ReSTORE lab, Department of OS & OT, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5G 1V7, ON, Canada
Department of Public Health, Health Administration & Information and Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, 37203, TN, United States
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIMS), Wardha, 442107, India

Department of Pediatrics and Medical Rehabilitation named after Tusupova D.M.
Department of Family medicine No.2
ReSTORE lab
Department of Public Health
Department of Community Medicine

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