Surface anthropometric indices in obesity-related metabolic diseases and cancers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers such as colon cancer (CCa), prostate cancer (PCa) and breast cancer (BCa) have been recognized as obesity-initiated diseases. The development of obesity can cause changes in metabolic and hormonal conditions, which can result in the storage of excess energy in different forms in the human body. Existing anthropometric data are useful in the prognosis of these diseases. Although frequently studied, there is disagreement on the applicability, reliability and trends of weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and relevant indices. WC is generally accepted as a key marker in CVD and CCa risk assessment whereas more evidence of the usefulness of WC-CVD, WC-PCa and WC-BCa correlations is needed. The body mass index, which has been widely used as a determinant of obesity, has a strong connection with CCa risk in men and young women, but an inconsistent connection with BCa. Cross-referencing measurements, with indices such as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), enhances the association with diseases, e.g. WHtR-CVD and WHR-CCa, and connections are strong. This idea is further applied to multiple referencing. For example, the WHtR/WHR has been studied and found highly correlated with the MetS risk in Asia. In addition, latent issues (such as tools or techniques for surface anthropometric measurement), which could affect the prognosis of diseases, have been discussed. To this end, three-dimensional technology is suggested as a reliable tool for various anthropometric data collection and analysis in preventive medicine.