Non-communicable diseases: waist hip ratio: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Non-communicable diseases: waist hip ratio

Sample item

A woman has waist 90 cm and hip 100 cm. Her waist hip ratio is 0.9. By the standard cut-off for central obesity in women, she is:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Centrally obese (above 0.85)

The cut-off for abdominal obesity is a waist hip ratio above 0.9 in men and above 0.85 in women. A value of 0.9 in a woman exceeds 0.85 and denotes central obesity with raised cardiometabolic risk.

Option by option

  • A. Underweight

    WHR does not indicate underweight.

  • B. Normal (below 0.9)

    0.9 is the male cut-off, not the female one.

  • C. Centrally obese (above 0.85) (correct)

    Correct. 0.9 is above the female cut-off of 0.85.

  • D. Normal because her BMI cannot be assessed

    WHR is independent of BMI.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Centrally obese (above 0.85). The cut-off for abdominal obesity is a waist hip ratio above 0.

Why is "Underweight" not the answer?

WHR does not indicate underweight.

Why is "Normal (below 0.9)" not the answer?

0.9 is the male cut-off, not the female one.

Why is "Normal because her BMI cannot be assessed" not the answer?

WHR is independent of BMI.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Non-communicable diseases: waist hip ratio in PSM. 9 in men and above 0.85 in women. A value of 0.9 in a woman exceeds 0.85 and denotes central obesity with raised cardiometabolic risk.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Non-communicable diseases: waist hip ratio?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.