Percent body fat is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk factors than body mass index

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the predictive values of percent body fat (PBF) and body mass index (BMI) for cardiovascular risk factors, especially when PBF and BMI are conflicting. BMI was calculated by the standard formula and PBF was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A total of 3859 ambulatory adult Han Chinese subjects (2173 males and 1686 females, age range: 18-85 years) without a history of cardiovascular diseases were recruited from February to September 2009. Based on BMI and PBF, they were classified into group 1 (normal BMI and PBF, N = 1961), group 2 (normal BMI, but abnormal PBF, N = 381), group 3 (abnormal BMI, but normal PBF, N = 681), and group 4 (abnormal BMI and PBF, N = 836). When age, gender, lifestyle, and family history of obesity were adjusted, PBF, but not BMI, was correlated with blood glucose and lipid levels. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for cardiovascular risk factors in groups 2 and 4 were 1.88 (1.45-2.45) and 2.06 (1.26-3.35) times those in group 1, respectively, but remained unchanged in group 3 (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 0.92-1.89). Logistic regression models also demonstrated that PBF, rather than BMI, was independently associated with cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, PBF, and not BMI, is independently associated with cardiovascular risk factors, indicating that PBF is a better predictor.

Association of visceral and total body fat with hypertension and prehypertension in a middle-aged Chinese population

“…The commonly reported adiposity measures include weight, waist circumference, subscapular and triceps skinfold measures, and indices such as BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, various skinfold ratios [21], and percentage body fat (PBF) [22]. The gold standards for measurement of fat distribution are micromagnetic resonance imaging and microcomputed tomography; however, they are not economical [23].…”

“…PBF is also a good measure of the overall obesity degree and is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk factors than BMI [22]. The visceral fat index (VFI) is also an accurate and reliable indicator for evaluating visceral adiposity [29].…”

Lifestyle risk factors of non-communicable diseases among patients after liver transplantation – a pilot study

“…Body mass index (BMi) was assessed with the guidelines of the world health Organization (whO), wc -with the guidelines of the international diabetes Federation (idF) from 2006. %tF > 25% in men and > 30% in women indicated metabolic obesity [9,[17][18][19][20].…”

Evaluación De La Adiposidad Corporal Según Índice De Masa Corporal Y Circunferencia De Cintura en Jóvenes Universitarios

“…Con todo, también se sabe que hay que considerar las diferencias de género en los depósitos de grasa en el cuerpo (9), pues las mujeres tienen mayor grasa abdominal subcutánea y menos grasa intrabdominal en relación con los hombres (10) y el IMC tendría dificultades para discriminar entre grasa corporal y masa magra (11), cuestión que debe tomarse en cuenta cuando se realicen clasificaciones de peso corporal (9). Según lo anterior y partiendo de la hipó-tesis de que la CC podría ser una medición más precisa que el IMC, y que conforme la edad avanza podríamos tener algunos resultados diferenciados por edad y sexo, el objetivo del estudio fue analizar las diferencias de adiposidad corporal determinada por IMC y CC según grupos de edad en jóvenes universitarios de ambos sexos.…”