Comparison between anthropometry, ultrasonography and under water weighing for prediction of body fat and metabolic syndrome in adult Indians

Introduction: Obesity is a major public health problem. We evaluated the accuracy of various anthropometric variables among waist circumference (WC), waist: hip ratio (W:H), waist: height ratio (W:Ht), skin fold thickness (STs) that are used to predict body fat in obese middle age Indians. Methodology: A cross sectional study was undertaken on 51 individuals aged (30-55 years), with body mass index (BMI) of 23 or above (22 males and 29 females). Waist, hip circumference were measured by tape at specific levels. Biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and abdominal STs were measured by Harpenden calipers. Total body fat (TBF) was calculated using underwater weighing machine and intraabdominal fat (IAF) and subcutaneous body fat (SC) were estimated using ultrasonography. The status of metabolic syndrome was also determined in each subject. Result: WC showed significant association (p<0.01) with SC in both males and females. W:H ratio showed significant correlation with ultrasound measures of IAF and metabolic syndrome (p<0.01) in men. W: Ht ratio also showed significant correlation (p<0.01) with SC in both males and females and TBF in females. Conclusions: The ultrasonography measurements of IAF estimate visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome better than other anthropometric measurements and the effectiveness of other anthropometry indices requires reference to gender, TBF, IAF and SC.

Key-words:

Anthropometric measurements - intraabdominal fat - metabolic syndrome - Obesity - Ultrasonography - Hydrostatic under water weighing

Publication History

Received: 06 August 2013

Accepted: 20 December 2013

Article published online:
07 July 2022