SENSITIVITY OF BODY MASS INDEX(BMI)) CUT OFF'S IN PREDICTING PERCENT BODY FAT IN SAUDI YOUNG FEMALE POPULATION

Shahida Banu Shamsuddeen*, Dr. Epuru Suneetha, Ameerah Ayed Muharib Al Shammari

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To study the association of BMI with percent fat ranges and to examine if obesity markers other than BMI have higher predictability in identification of high risk groups as defined by metabolic measurements among female college students and employees in Hail, Northern part of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Sample of 514 female college students and employees were enrolled and body composition was measured by using bioelectrical impendence technique. Blood pressure (BP) and pulse were measured using automatic BP reader in a resting sitting position. Random blood glucose was tested using strip method (One touch, Simple). Results: Mean BMI was in overweight category while BF%, WHR were in high risk range for the study sample. Collectively, 46.7% of the study subjects were overweight and obese. Majority of the subjects (71.8 %) were in high risk WC, WHR group and high %BF (85.6 %). In underweight BMI group 66.1 % had normal BF% and around 23.2 % had high BF% while in female normal BMI group only 14.2 % have normal BF% while nearly 85.8 % have high BF%. Results indicate the inability of BMI classification in predicting the normal ranges for WHR, WC and VF. Misclassification is higher in underweight and normal weight categories as compared to overweight category. Blood pressure and blood glucose had linear relationship for all obesity markers studied with underweight having lowest ranges as compared to obese groups having highest ranges. However the associations were not significant for blood glucose with WHR and %BF. Pulse had inverse relationship with low risk groups having higher values as compared to high risk groups for all obesity markers. Conclusion: Our findings suggest BMI showed low sensitivity for detecting body fatness, especially in normal BMI category. The true prevalence of obesity may be higher than estimated in populations using only BMI as surrogate marker.

Keywords: Blood pressure (BP), BMI, WC, WHR and VF.