Waist-Hip Ratio and Its Relationship with Biochemical and Hematological Profiles in Middle-Aged Males of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Waist-hip ratio (WHR) has emerged as a significant anthropometric marker for assessing central obesity and its associated metabolic disorders. This review examines the relationship between WHR and selected biochemical and hematological parameters among middle-aged males in Uttar Pradesh, India. The review synthesizes findings from multiple studies that have investigated associations between WHR and various metabolic parameters including lipid profiles, glycemic indices, inflammatory markers, and hematological parameters. Evidence consistently shows that elevated WHR is strongly associated with adverse lipid profiles, insulin resistance, and pro-inflammatory states in this population. Middle-aged males from Uttar Pradesh with higher WHR values demonstrate significant correlations with elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL-cholesterol, increased LDL-cholesterol, and disturbed glycemic parameters. Furthermore, specific hematological alterations including changes in hemoglobin levels, white blood cell counts, and platelet parameters show meaningful associations with increasing WHR values. These relationships appear independent of body mass index (BMI) in many cases, highlighting WHR's unique value as a screening tool for cardiometabolic risk assessment. This review emphasizes the clinical utility of WHR measurement in primary healthcare settings in Uttar Pradesh for early identification of at-risk individuals and discusses the potential physiological mechanisms underlying these associations, which may guide targeted preventive strategies for this demographic.