Obesity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases.To determine the relationship between overall or abdominal obesity and various metabolic abnormalities.The medical records of participants undergoing examination from January 2000 to December 2002 were analysed. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) for overall obesity and waist circumference (WC; cm) indicating abdominal obesity were measured. Four groups were studied: (1) BMI or = 27kg/m2, WC: female or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm; (4) BMI > or = 27kg/m2, WC: female > or = 80cm or male > or = 90cm.There were 1,342 (44%) females and 1,711 males aged 20-87 years. The prevalence of overall obesity was 20.4% and abdominal obesity was 48%. Obese subjects had more metabolic abnormalities than non-obese in terms of risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high level of LDL, low level of HDL, high ratio of TC/HDL, hyperuricaemia and fatty liver.As overall and abdominal obesity may predict clustering of metabolic abnormalities we suggest that BMI and WC are convenient methods for assessing metabolic abnormalities in primary healthcare settings.