The distribution of fat is very important for predicting the possible complications of obesity. They differ according to the dominance types of fat:
- central obesity or android or abdominal (apple shape): excess fat is typically located in face, chest and abdomen. This type of obesity is associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality.
- Gynoid or peripheral obesity (pear shaped) fat accumulates mainly in the hips and thighs. This type of distribution is primarily associated with venous problems in lower limbs (varices) and osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthrosis).
- Obesity evenly distributed: it is one in which the excess fat is not dominant in any anatomic area. To find out what kind of obese before we divide the waist circumference by hip circumference. In women, when it is above 0.9, and the man when he is to 1 is considered android type obesity.
- Latest trends: in the latest American Consensus on Obesity (1998), for assessment of overweight using BMI proposed, and waist circumference. The recommendation of abandoning the waist / hip ratio for waist circumference, is due to the positive correlation which it has with abdominal fat content.
