KUMJ | VOL. 23 | NO. 3 | ISSUE 91 | JULY-SEPTEMBER, 2025

Assessment of Obesity Indices in Predicting Hyperglycemia in Adults of Duwakot, Bhaktapur
Khakurel G, Gautam K, Karki PK, Chalise S

Abstract:
Background Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders, including hyperglycemia, which is a precursor to diabetes. Various obesity indices, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), are used to assess adiposity. Objective To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of obesity indices in predicting hyperglycemia among adults in Duwakot, Bhaktapur. Method This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 128 adults visiting Kathmandu Medical College Public Limited, Duwakot from August 2024 to January 2025. Anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC and WHtR) were recorded, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured to define hyperglycemia (FBG ≥ 126 mg/ dL). Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between obesity indices and FBG levels, while an independent t-test compared the mean values between males and females. The predictive ability of obesity indices was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cut-off values were determined. Values of p≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result The prevalence of hyperglycemia among the participants was 17.2 %. Pearson correlation analysis showed that FBG was significantly correlated with WC (Male: r = 0.233, p < 0.05; Female: r = 0.459, p < 0.05), and WHtR (Male: r = 0.227, p < 0.05; Female: r = 0.482, p < 0.05). Independent t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in WC (p = 0.025) and WHtR (p = 0.014), with males having higher WC and females having higher WHtR. However, BMI (p = 0.179) did not show a significant difference between the two groups. ROC curve analysis revealed that WHtR had the highest AUC (Male:0.607, Female:0.721), followed by WC and BMI. Conclusion This study found that WHtR was the strongest predictor of hyperglycemia, followed by WC, and BMI. WHtR could be an effective screening tool for early hyperglycemia detection in community settings.
Keyword : Hyperglycemia, Predictive value, Obesity indices