Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Obesity is significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many anthropometric indexes are now being used in clinical practice to identify and determine the prevalence of obesity.

Aim: This study determined the relationship between common anthropometric indexes and percentage body fat (%BF).

Methodology: Ninety-four volunteer subjects participated in this cross sectional hospital based study which was carried out at our endocrine outpatients’ clinic. Anthropometric parameters of all subjects were measured using the standard protocol. %BF of each subject was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method according to the standard protocol with the aid of Omron BIA machine.

Results: Of the participants, 61.7% were females and 38.3% were males, with their mean age being 62.9±12.2 years. Their mean BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist:hip ratio (WHR) were 25.5±5.3 kg/m², 94.5±13.0 cm, and 0.95±0.07 respectively. The mean %BF was 33.2±10.8%. There was a significant and a strong positive correlation between %BF and BMI (r=0.79, P<0.001), WC (r=0.71, P<0.001). However, the %BF had a weak correlation with WHR (r=0.13, P=0.200). Meanwhile, a stronger relationship was demonstrated between %BF and WHR among men than women.

Conclusion: BMI and WC are better surrogate markers of obesity than WHR among adult Nigerians most especially for women. Therefore, routine use of WHR in our clinical practice to assess obesity should be less emphasised.