Waist-to-Height Ratio Predicts Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 -- Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) outperforms body mass index (BMI) in detecting the risk for liver disease, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Andrew O. Agbaje, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., from University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, examined whether new WHtR cut points predict liver steatosis and fibrosis. The analysis included data from 6,464 multiracial U.S. adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021 to 2023).
Agbaje found that adjusted WHtR high fat mass predicted liver steatosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.63) and fibrosis (OR, 1.31). Similarly, excess WHtR fat mass was associated with liver steatosis (OR, 4.02) and fibrosis (OR, 1.61), while normal WHtR fat mass predicted lower odds of liver steatosis (OR, 0.52) and fibrosis/cirrhosis (OR, 0.48). Separately, WHtR high fat mass and excess fat mass predicted higher odds of liver steatosis better than BMI-overweight and BMI-obesity (1.6-fold and 6.0-fold, respectively).
“Remarkably, the findings were consistent regardless of sex and age. In addition, the findings were similar across the studied White, Black, Mexican-American, and Hispanic populations," Agbaje said in a statement. "The simple and universally accessible waist-to-height measurement is useful in clinical and public health practice for liver disease screening, prevention, diagnosis and management globally."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2025
Read this next
Racialized Economic Segregation Linked to Advanced Cancer Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2025 -- People living in racially and economically segregated neighborhoods are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage breast and cervical cancer...
New Subtype of Diabetes Identified in Sub-Saharan Africans, Black Americans
FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2025 -- A new diabetes subtype has been identified in Sub-Saharan Africans and Black Americans, according to a study published online July 21 in The Lancet...
Changes in Missouri Law Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Screening Rates
THURSDAY, July 31, 2025 -- Changes in Missouri law expanding breast cancer screening coverage have led to increased screening rates among Medicaid patients and an increased...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.